Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,234 studies31 sourcesUpdated 32 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Clinical Rehabilitation

Improving work outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis: A scoping review of non-pharmacological interventions

  • Shalina RD Saddal1,2,3,4
  • Blanca De Dios Perez5,6
  • Alejandra Machado7
  • Emilie Friberg7
  • Roshan das Nair8,9,10
  • Kathryn Radford5,6
  • Joost G Daams11
  • Hanneke E Hulst2,12,13,14
  • Vincent de Groot3
  • Karin van der Hiele2
  • Frederieke Schaafsma1,4
14 affiliations
  1. 1MS Center Amsterdam, Public and Occupational Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  2. 2Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
  3. 3MS Center Amsterdam, Rehabilitation Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  4. 4Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  5. 5Centre for Rehabilitation & Ageing Research, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
  6. 6NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK
  7. 7Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  8. 8Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
  9. 9Department of Health, SINTEF, Trondheim, Norway
  10. 10Central Unit for Research, Innovation, and Education in Mental Health, Clinic of Mental Healthcare, St Olavs Hospital, University Hospital Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
  11. 11Medical Library, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  12. 12School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  13. 13Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  14. 14Center or Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Read full textDOICite

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological intervention studies on work outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Data sources: We searched three electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science: Conference Proceeding Citation Index) and included studies reporting on having/returning to paid employment, work productivity, or factors related to work ability.

Review methods: The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews checklist were followed. All steps were conducted by two reviewers.

Results: The search (inception-April 2026) yielded 10449 articles. Sixteen studies were included: four vocational, seven psychological, one exercise, and four combining these intervention types. Reported work outcomes included employment status, work difficulties, workplace accommodations, promotions, impact on work and education, work productivity and impairment, and work and social adjustment. Eight studies aimed to improve work outcomes. Five interventions demonstrated significant improvement: two targeting fatigue with cognitive behavioral therapy (β = −0.34, 95% CI: −0.66 to −0.03; β = −3.68, 95% CI: −5.82 to −1.537), one on conscientiousness (effect size not reported), one on information processing speed (f2 = 0.04, p = 0.044), and one on job seeking (career goals and appraisal of potential work difficulties (t = −2.68, p = 0.009), self-esteem (t = 2.47, p = 0.016), relations (t = 2.44, p = 0.017), finances (t = 2.14, p = 0.036)).

Conclusion: Few non-pharmacological interventions evaluate work outcomes. Cognitive behavioral therapy targeting MS-related fatigue shows promise for improving work outcomes. The heterogeneity of MS and variability in work contexts add challenges, indicating that personalized interventions may ultimately prove more effective than generic approaches.

Related

  1. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of non-pharmacological interventions in improving psychological status and sleep quality among hemodialysis patients
    Minjie Liu, Haixia Chen, Yunyun Liu +5
    Frontiers in public healthPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textEpidemiology & public healthEurope PMC
  2. Exploring Factors and Nonpharmacological Interventions Associated With Respiratory Function in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review
    Amani M. Assiry, Ali A. Alammari, Ashley Parish +1
    International Journal of MS CarePeer-reviewedLicence not statedFull textGeneral medicinePMC
  3. Combining pharmacological and non-invasive brain stimulation strategies to promote remyelination in multiple sclerosis.
    Thomas Jonathan Scheinok, Dimitri De Bundel, Tim Vanmierlo +1
    Frontiers in molecular neurosciencePeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMCPMC
  4. Signaling pathways driving multiple sclerosis: From mechanisms to natural‑product interventions
    Ahmed M. El‐Dessouki, Heba Nasr Shalaby, Samar S. Khalaf +6
    Biomedicine & PharmacotherapyPeer-reviewedCC BY10 citedGeneral medicineOpenAlex
  5. Gluten-Free and Gluten-Restricted Diets in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review of Disease Activity and Patient-Reported Outcomes
    Rakan Alromayan, Reema Alshihri, Nora Aljohani +3
    NutrientsPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textNutritionEurope PMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{saddal2026improving,
  title = {{Improving work outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis: A scoping review of non-pharmacological interventions}},
  author = {Shalina RD Saddal and Blanca De Dios Perez and Alejandra Machado and Emilie Friberg and Roshan das Nair and Kathryn Radford and Joost G Daams and Hanneke E Hulst and Vincent de Groot and Karin van der Hiele and Frederieke Schaafsma},
  journal = {Clinical Rehabilitation},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1177/02692155261454943},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/02692155261454943},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Improving work outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis: A scoping review of non-pharmacological interventions
AU  - Shalina RD Saddal
AU  - Blanca De Dios Perez
AU  - Alejandra Machado
AU  - Emilie Friberg
AU  - Roshan das Nair
AU  - Kathryn Radford
AU  - Joost G Daams
AU  - Hanneke E Hulst
AU  - Vincent de Groot
AU  - Karin van der Hiele
AU  - Frederieke Schaafsma
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/25
JO  - Clinical Rehabilitation
DO  - 10.1177/02692155261454943
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1177/02692155261454943
AB  - Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological intervention studies on work outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).  Data sources: We searched three electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science: Conference Proceeding Citation Index) and included studies reporting on having/returning to paid employment, work productivity, or factors related to work ability.  Review methods: The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews checklist were followed. All steps were conducted by two reviewers.  Results: The search (inception-April 2026) yielded 10449 articles. Sixteen studies were included: four vocational, seven psychological, one exercise, and four combining these intervention types. Reported work outcomes included employment status, work difficulties, workplace accommodations, promotions, impact on work and education, work productivity and impairment, and work and social adjustment. Eight studies aimed to improve work outcomes. Five interventions demonstrated significant improvement: two targeting fatigue with cognitive behavioral therapy (β = −0.34, 95% CI: −0.66 to −0.03; β = −3.68, 95% CI: −5.82 to −1.537), one on conscientiousness (effect size not reported), one on information processing speed (f2 = 0.04, p = 0.044), and one on job seeking (career goals and appraisal of potential work difficulties (t = −2.68, p = 0.009), self-esteem (t = 2.47, p = 0.016), relations (t = 2.44, p = 0.017), finances (t = 2.14, p = 0.036)).  Conclusion: Few non-pharmacological interventions evaluate work outcomes. Cognitive behavioral therapy targeting MS-related fatigue shows promise for improving work outcomes. The heterogeneity of MS and variability in work contexts add challenges, indicating that personalized interventions may ultimately prove more effective than generic approaches.
SN  - 0269-2155
SN  - 1477-0873
ER  -