A study shows that stressful life events serve to worsen the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) find that their illness is unpredictable - they may go for months free of neurological symptoms, like muscle weakness and lack of bladder control, only to succumb to a severe and disabling crisis.

Researchers in The Netherlands followed a group of 73 patients with this type of relapsing-remitting MS. They asked them to record any stressful events occuring over the study course. Overall, there were 457 such events, not related to the illness, such as job stress, financial problems or death of a family member. A total of 134 exacerbations of the illness occurred and 136 infections. Stress doubled the risk of exacerbation but there was no link with infection. The study suggests that people with MS might find it useful to learn stress management if they want more control over their illness.