the neuropsychiatric and personality profile of MS patients: its determinants and impact on daily life functioning. An extension of the FuProMS Study

Neurobehavioral changes, in different levels of severity, are common in MS
patients and pose a significant burden on quality of life and daily life
functioning, but have been investigated incompletely. Although neuroimaging
data offer important clues as to the pathogenesis of these abnormalities,
psychosocial factors cannot be ignored and emerge as equally important
predictors. Most likely, a complex interplay of biological, illness-related,
behavioral and psychosocial factors contribute to the pathophysiology of most
of them.

(1) to establish the neuropsychiatric and personality status (symptoms and
impairments)
(2) to assess the possible determinants of these symptoms and impairments and
(3) to examine the impact of these symptoms and impairments on daily life
functioning in a longitudinal cohort of patients with clinically diagnosed MS

Prolongation of a prospective longitudinal study.

Consists of the following two parts:
1. prospective observational part: to assess determinants of neuropsychiatric
symptoms/disorders and their impact on daily functioning in MS patients
2. case-control cross-sectional part: comparison of frequencies of
neuropsychiatric symptoms/disorders in patients vs controls

participants will need to fill in a number of self-report questionnaires and
will receive one phone call to assess two questionnaires. Hence, no visit to
the research centre/hospital is required. Estimated duration: 2 hours to fill
in the self-reported questionnaires and an additional * hour for the assessment
by telephone. No risk involved, no invasive techniques.