- PTSD affects approximately 5-16% of people with MS, though it remains uncertain whether prevalence exceeds that of the general population.
- PTSD may influence MS disease activity, reduce employment, and impair participation in healthcare.
- Preliminary data indicate no sex difference in PTSD prevalence among people with MS, unlike the general population; more research needed on correlates and treatments.
Mult Scler. 2026 Aug 5:13524585261475088. doi: 10.1177/13524585261475088. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Psychiatric comorbidities are common in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Yet, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has received little attention to date. Grounded in an emerging literature on the impact of trauma on pwMS, this Topical Review synthesizes current evidence on PTSD in pwMS. Although 5%-16% of pwMS have PTSD, there remains uncertainty about whether the prevalence exceeds that seen in the general population. Nonetheless, PTSD may influence measures of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related disease activity, employment, and participation in healthcare. Preliminary data indicate no sex difference in PTSD in pwMS, in contrast to an elevated risk in females in the general population. Further work is needed to clarify the demographic and disease-related correlates of PTSD, and the effectiveness of potential treatments in pwMS. By summarizing existing knowledge, this review highlights avenues for future research to advance care for people with comorbid PTSD and MS.
PMID:42554581 | DOI:10.1177/13524585261475088
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