A Multidisciplinary Approach to Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: Anna Kratz, PhD

WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

“I really believe that if we can take this kind of biopsychosocial approach, where we're addressing health behaviors—exercise, sleep—as well as the psychosocial—stress, depression—all the kind of negative cognitions that can come around fatigue, and then also applying any medical kinds of approaches that would be helpful, that's an ideal approach.”

Addressing the issue of fatigue for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be complex, and with the additional burden it places on patients, experts in the field continue to search for ways to combat and address it. Anna Kratz, PhD, associate professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and a nonclinical research psychologist, University of Michigan Medicine, spoke with NeurologyLive on the importance of implementing a multidisciplinary approach to fatigue, one of the “unseen” or “invisible” symptoms of MS. 

According to Kratz, fatigue can negatively impact quality of life for people with MS, but it is not always inquired about or treated as seriously as mobility issues. She proposed a “biopsychosocial approach” where multiple health behaviors are analyzed, such as exercise and sleep, in addition to the psychosocial symptoms that may require medical approaches.

Kratz and her colleague colleagues, Nora Fritz, PhD, PT, DPT, NCS, from Wayne State University, and Tiffany Braley, MD, MS, from the University of Michigan, led a session on MS symptoms, primarily cognitive functioning, at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), October 25-28. While strategies and approaches for managing fatigue were the crux of Kratz’s presentation, Fritz also discussed exercise and physical activity interventions, while Braley commented on medical interventions. 

For more coverage of CMSC 2021, click here.

REFERENCE
Kratz A. Combined Approaches to Fatigue in MS. Presented at: CMSC 2021; October 25-28; REHAB1.