Treating the family with multiple sclerosis.

It is difficult to treat a family, particularly when clinicians only have the opportunity to see one or two members in the medical setting. Still, one can accomplish a great deal by viewing the patient within a family system. Advantages of this systemic approach are similar to those accrued when one views the individual patient's problems as being inter-connected. For example, we know that pain stemming from MS can exacerbate depression that, in turn, increases pain ... and so on. By the same token, if the clinician treats either pain or depression, it will likely reduce the other one. One doesn't need to treat all aspects of the family to show a fundamental improvement in the system. If the well partner attends a support group, his or her ability to care for the patient may increase, which could reduce his or her own depression. If children learn to explain the patient's MS to their friends, then they feel more comfortable with closeness to the parent. Treating the family helps it stay healthy, and it is the family who ultimately cares for the patient. To treat the family is to provide the patient with essential care.