| A small minority of those who have multiple | | | | categories it is possible that you may not quite fit |
| sclerosis suffer from rapid mood swings that can | | | | into one of them based on the different emotional |
| be described as almost bipolar in nature. When | | | | experiences you have. |
| they talk about their MS and mood swings these | | | | The Guidelines |
| patients describe a rapid shift from one state of | | | | The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has |
| emotions to another or major changes in mood | | | | published a guideline that is aimed at helping not |
| such as fits of intense anger or uncontrollable | | | | only patients cope with their MS and mood |
| tears and feeling sad. Researchers believe that | | | | swings, but at helping the specialist to better |
| the damage caused by the lesions to the nerves | | | | assess them and make decisions as to the proper |
| many be responsible for these mood swings but | | | | treatment if any. This guideline states that |
| research is still relatively new in this area. | | | | patients who seem to be going through these |
| Studies are New | | | | emotional problems should be given a full |
| One of the biggest differences between problems | | | | assessment of their emotional states by a |
| like bipolar disorders and depression when | | | | specialist. |
| compared to MS and mood swings is that there | | | | This assessment is designed to help the specialist |
| has been very little research into the reasons | | | | determine whether the mood swings are a |
| why those few people have such tremendous | | | | symptom of the disease or are caused by the |
| emotional instability. There has been a slew of | | | | medication that the patient is taking. If the |
| research done for those who are bipolar or suffer | | | | problems caused by the patients MS and mood |
| from depression, but not so for the multiple | | | | swings are affecting them and everyone around |
| sclerosis patient and as such there is not a lot of | | | | them medications may be suggested that can |
| information currently available for doctors to refer | | | | help stabilize the mood swings to a manageable |
| to making it much harder for them to diagnose | | | | degree. |
| the problem. | | | | In cases where the patient either cannot or will |
| It has only been in the last few years that any | | | | not take the medication or where is does not |
| real research has been done in the area of MS | | | | seem to be working there are alternative such a |
| and mood swings. This new research has allowed | | | | behavioral modification training that may help |
| doctors to begin to categorize the different | | | | them to take more control of their emotional |
| emotional issues that MS patient suffer into | | | | symptoms so that they can carry on with a |
| emotionalism, mood swings and affective | | | | relatively normal life without alienating everyone |
| disorders. Even with these somewhat loose | | | | around them. |