Multiple sclerosis: the impact of physical impairment and cognitive dysfunction on social and sparetime activities.

In a cross-sectional investigation of 116 patients with multiple sclerosis, the social and sparetime activities of the patient were assessed by both patient and his/her family. The assessments were correlated to physical disability which showed that particularly those who were moderately disabled suffered from severe psychosocial strain. The literature shows that the strain becomes even more severe in certain periods of progression of the disease with the result that psychosomatic conditions arise.