Do patients with MS have dramatic mood swings? - MS and Depression

11/16/10 10:53am

Hi witedazee,

Yes, patients with MS can have dramatic mood swings. They can also be moody and depressed. These are common and do need to be addressed. I take an antidepressant which helps tremendously.

Patients with MS can also experience emotional lability or pseudobulbar affect which is characterized by situation inappropriate emotions, such as laughing or crying for not apparent reason. A new treatment has just been FDA approved for this condition.

If an MS patient is experiencing any of the above, then he/she should discuss it with their doctor who can help. Also, a loved one or caregiver could also mention to the doctor that the MS patient is experiencing these things.

witedazee

8/21/12 3:16pm

Thank you, would you please tell me how it affects cognitive skills too, please. Can it get to the point that there is not a consciousness when it comes to right and wrong? Thanks, Liz

Lisa Emrich, Health Guide

8/21/12 5:58pm

MS can cause changes in the brain which can then may cause cognitive and behavioral changes in the person. It is important to be evaluated. Whether someone can't distinguish right from wrong is perhaps a legal question. Basically, it would be important to seek the guidance of a medical (mental health care) professional.

Marie

11/16/10 9:36am

YES! Hi, my name is Marie. My husband has had MS for 9 years now. If he is not on his anti depressants he has very bad mood swings. He gets very angry and down right nasty to everyone. We just had an instance that he did not take them for 3 weeks and OMG...he was absolutely horrible. Two weeks back on them and he was his sweet self again. I'm not a doctor just a wife with a husband with MS. But yes I can say from experience the answer is yes. I also had a father with MS that had very bad mood swings to the point that he would get violent. Just be careful. and All the best to you!!....Marie

Christie @ the Lesion Journals

11/16/10 9:11pm

Yes. At least for me. Reading the two above replies from Marie and Lisa is tremendously helpful! I have definitely gotten crazier since my diagnosis in May, 2010 and often experience mood swings. At first I thought it was just stress but I have come to realize that it's related to my MS. I will now consider discussing meds with my support partner and my neuro doc. Thanks!

Best,

Christie

corey

8/21/12 2:42pm

I am currently a husband of someone with ms. Unfortunately going through a divorce. For the six weeks leading up to an incident where she had to much to drink and hit me where the worst time (up to that point) in my life. She would constantly accuse me of doing things I didnt do and become angry about something that happend 20 minutes about when she was ok about it 20 minutes ago. At first she could go a couple of days with out an outburst. Called me a loser and worthless, constantly telling me that she hated me and screamed curse words at me. I never took it well and usually argued back with her and told her that I felt trapped and that she made me feel like killing myself. Well after she hit me and fell down mutiple times trying to get to me (giving her scrapes and bruises), a couple of days went by and when I went to work she made a false police report saying that I threw her against the window. I never touched her. is this common behavior for someone with MS?

Lisa Emrich, Health Guide

8/21/12 5:43pm

Hi Corey (Jacob?)

I'm sorry to hear that the relationship with your wife has been difficult. It is not common behavior for someone with MS to behave in such a manner. Whether it is common for someone who has been affected cognitively with MS, I don't really know. Emotions and behavior are so personal.

Sounds like you should work to protect yourself and getting a divorce may be one way to do that. You might also want to talk to a counsellor to discuss how dealing with all of this has affected you. Perhaps you might see if you could persuade your wife to get help as well.

I hope that things get better for you. Keep your calm and stay safe.

jacob

8/21/12 2:44pm

I am currently a husband of someone with ms. Unfortunately going through a divorce. For the six weeks leading up to an incident where she had to much to drink and hit me where the worst time (up to that point) in my life. She would constantly accuse me of doing things I didnt do and become angry about something that happend 20 minutes about when she was ok about it 20 minutes ago. At first she could go a couple of days with out an outburst. Called me a loser and worthless, constantly telling me that she hated me and screamed curse words at me. I never took it well and usually argued back with her and told her that I felt trapped and that she made me feel like killing myself. Well after she hit me and fell down mutiple times trying to get to me (giving her scrapes and bruises), a couple of days went by and when I went to work she made a false police report saying that I threw her against the window. I never touched her. is this common behavior for someone with MS?

corey

8/24/12 2:08pm

I think I had forgotten to mention. My soon to be ex. (as sad as it is) hadnt taken her copaxone for 30 to 45 days straight. She is a medical marijuana patient also. She has gone to a doctor and was prescribed Effexor, then Valium. She discontinued both. Could this all lead to increases in violent behaviours?

Is it possible that someone in this situation to project their flaws and short comings onto their undeserving partners? Is what I mean for a specific example; She keeps telling people that I am the one with a problem and needs help. I can and have admitted to my counseler in March that if im not with my wife I dont need counseling. I needed it to help deal with her abusive behaviour. Wish I would have learned that people with MS tend to lack empathy long before I gave my heart to her.

Q: Do patients with MS have dramatic mood swings?

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