This comprehensive resource examines all aspects of the care of the patient with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It focuses on the themes of: - The importance of patient-centred nursing - Comprehensive assessment of the person with MS - The wide variation in the course of MS - The role of the nurse The early part of this book examines the theory of MS i.e. the pathophysiology, the epidemiology, the types of MS and the various diagnostic tests. Practical aspects are included particularly in caring for someone who is going through the process of being diagnosed as having MS. There follows an exploration of the theory and practice of interferon therapies and a review of symptom management using case studies and vignettes. The later chapters discuss the complications of severe MS and the implications for the family and nurse in caring for someone who is severely disabled. Megan Burgess, a Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Hope Hospital, Salford has used her years of practical experience to produce an authoritative, single-volume library that will be essential reading for nurses in hospital and in the community who come in contact with people with MS.

Natural History of MS. Diagnosing MS. Types of MS. Disease Modifying therapies. Symptoms and Their Treatments. Bladder and Bowel Symptoms. Sexuality and Pregnancy. Cognitive Dysfunction and Depression. Patient--centred Nursing. Health Promotion and Self--management. Complications and Management of Severe MS. The Future for People With MS.