Telepsychotherapy for Multiple Sclerosis and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases: Specificities and Challenges

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that leads to a wide range of physical and psychological challenges, including depression and anxiety, which significantly impair patients' quality of life and treatment adherence. Providing psychological support is crucial for improving patient wellbeing. Telepsychotherapy and other telematic interventions have emerged as effective solutions for managing MS-related mental health issues, offering increased accessibility while reducing barriers related to mobility, cost, and time. Specificities in the psychological needs should be considered when delivering psychological interventions to individuals with MS. However, challenges such as difficulties in the establishing and maintaining of a therapeutic alliance, low adherence, technological difficulties, and privacy concerns remain. For a more comprehensive and effective taken care of mental health needs and to improve long-term care for MS patients, the design of telematic therapies, including proactive psychological interventions, should address the above limitations and concerns.