Perception of Prognostic Risk in Multiple Sclerosis.

The present study describes expectations of prognosis of recently diagnosed MS patients and their partners with a focus on the risk of wheelchair dependence. The three main questions in this thesis were: (1) How do recently diagnosed patients and their partners perceive the risk of wheelchair dependence? (2) How do perceptions of risk relate to psychological well-being? (3) What are the determinants of perception of prognostic risk? Before answering these key questions, the psychological burden of disease and the quality of life (QoL) of patients and partners in the early phase of MS are examined. It was demonstrated that the early period after diagnosis of MS puts a substantial emotional burden on patients and their partners. Patients and partners overestimated the short- and medium-term risks of wheelchair dependence, but underestimated the lifetime risk. Moreover, higher perceptions of the short- and medium risks were found among patients with higher symptom perception, and were associated with poorer psychological well-being. These findings are interpreted from a psychological and clinical perspective.

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