[Neuropsychopathology of people suffering from Parkinson's disease (2/2)]

[Multiple sclerosis and daily care]

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive disease that is too often associated with the image of a wheelchair. However, this image does not reflect the reality of most patients. Even with basic treatment, relapses can persist. Less visible, fluctuating and often misunderstood symptoms can be the source of negative judgements: chronic fatigue labelled as laziness or as a lack of willpower, balance problems interpreted as drunkenness, mood fluctuations likened to hysteria, etc. The consequences of the disease are therefore physical, psychological and socio-economic. The aim is to preserve the quality of daily life. There are a number of aids and treatments available.

[Supporting the adaptation to the announcement of a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (2/2)]

The emotional reactions that arise when a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is made are repeated at each stage of the pathology. They confront the person with a reality they thought they had mastered. Fighting with the disease means continuing to live one's personal, family, love and professional life. It is a matter of positive thinking by becoming aware of one's limits and finding the right balance between one's desires and one's capacities. The relationship of trust developed with the various professionals who will accompany the patient throughout his or her treatment is essential.

[Supporting the adaptation to the announcement of multiple sclerosis]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that most often begins in young adulthood. With at least 2,500 new cases diagnosed each year in France, it is the leading cause of severe non-traumatic disability among young adults. The announcement of MS constitutes a brutal intrusion into the life of the subject. The carers accompany the process of cognitive and emotional adjustment that is inevitable in order to learn to live with the disease.

[Screening for Alzheimer's disease by assessing memory impairment]

The feeling of memory failure is the most frequently expressed discomfort with age. The difficulty is to distinguish between a memory complaint and a memory pathology. Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed at the stage of dementia. Early detection and the prospect of treatments likely to act lead to an interest in its pre-dementia phase, which is known to precede the appearance of the dementia syndrome by several years.

[Psychology in therapeutic patient education]

In an effort to improve the quality of life of people with chronic diseases, care practices have been enriched by therapeutic patient education (TPE). This aims at the acquisition of plural knowledge and skills by patients, which promotes optimal management of the disease on a daily basis and of the resulting changes, limiting their negative repercussions on their autonomy and well-being. The subject is placed at the heart of the system, in a position of decision and responsibility, and collaborates actively with the various healthcare stakeholders. TPE therefore involves taking into account the patient's psychological dimension, using psychology and fundamental concepts for its implementation.