Cognitive-behavioral therapy: what benefits can it offer people with multiple sclerosis?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) originated as a treatment for emotional disorders. However, it is increasingly used to help people with chronic illnesses manage symptoms and improve psychosocial outcomes, such as depression and quality of life. In this article, we focus on uses of CBT in patients with multiple sclerosis, an incurable neurological disease that causes potentially debilitating symptoms and poses numerous challenges to psychological well-being. We examine the rationale for using CBT to deal with distress, symptoms, impairment and disease exacerbation and progression, and discuss examples of existing research on the efficacy and acceptability of these interventions. Finally, we consider areas where CBT could potentially benefit people with multiple sclerosis in the future. Ongoing challenges in this field are discussed.