Integration of Adults with Multiple Sclerosis

This master thesis focuses on the integration of adults with multiple sclerosis, and offers a perspective on their quality of life. The theoretical part describes chronic diseases and their impact on the personality of the patients with multiple sclerosis, as well as patients' coping mechanisms. The main part of the thesis is dedicated to definition, progress, epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnostics and therapy of multiple sclerosis. Many patients are forced to change their lifestyle, employment and everyday activities due to multiple sclerosis. Therefore, one chapter of this master thesis is dedicated to the possibilities of their economical, social and cultural integration. In the empirical part, a scientific research was conducted using MSQOL-54 questionnaire, that determined the effect of multiple sclerosis on the patients' quality of life and their mental and physical health. The most significant negative factors impacting the quality of life were pain and fatigue, which are at the same time the most common symptoms occuring in patients with multiple sclerosis. Key words Multiple sclerosis, Chronical disease, Handicap, Integration, Quality of Life, Employment, Culture