Table 2.
Participants’ Self-Reported Symptoms
| MS Type | Pt. no. |
All Current Self-Reported MS Symptoms: Shaded Cells Indicate Presence of Problems with the Specific Symptom | Current Self-Reported Cognitive Symptoms (Problems with) |
Subjective Main Symptom Affecting QoL | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatigue | Gait/Balance | Muscle Weakness | Neuropathy/Pain | Spasms/Cramps | Incontinence | Hyperactive Bladder | Poor Sleep | Impaired Vision | Cognitive Difficulties | ||||
| Secondary progressive MS | II-1 | Gait | |||||||||||
| II-2 | Slow thinking, learning, memory, attention, language (straying), structuring, organizing, anger, frustration | Gait | |||||||||||
| II-3 | Confusion, attention, flexibility (changing plans), memory, language (expression), multitasking, mood/emotional sensitivity, anger, stress, overview | Gait | |||||||||||
| II-4 | Poor coping with crowds and noise, attention, irritability, anger | Gait/pain Hyperactive bladder |
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| II-5 | (Minor problems with language and slow thinking when tired) | Gait | |||||||||||
| II-6 | Slow thinking, memory, attention, excessive thoughts, language (expression, prosody), irritability, confusion, (understanding) | Fatigue Hyperactive bladder |
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| Relapsing-remitting MS | II-7 | Language (expression, straying), attention, sensitivity to sensory overload, overview (need for planning and structure), creativity (getting ideas), stress, irritability, memory, multitasking, learning, writing (spelling words and numbers) | Fatigue CD |
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| FG-8 | Memory, attention, irritability, overview, (social gatherings) | Neuropathy (legs) | |||||||||||
| II-9 | (Minor memory issues) | Neuropathic pain (legs) | |||||||||||
| FG-10 | Memory, major anger (lacking control of expression), language (expression), attention, difficulties coping with noise and many people, difficulty with speed | Gait/pain (CD) |
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| FG-11 | Memory, planning, teaching, attention, difficulties coping with crowds (eg shopping) and movement around her (eg speed), mental fatigue, overview | Fatigue CD |
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| II-12 | Language (expression), analysis (seeing connections and patterns), overview, slow thinking, attention, memory, multitasking, emotional sensitivity, stress, anger | CD | |||||||||||
Abbreviations: II, Individual interview; FG, focus group; MS, multiple sclerosis; CD, cognitive difficulties.