Disparities by Race in Pregnancy Care and Clinical Outcomes in Women With Multiple Sclerosis: A Diverse Multicenter Cohort.

Background And Objectives: Racial disparities exist in both neurologic and obstetric populations, underscoring the importance of evaluating pregnancy outcomes in diverse women with multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this multicenter retrospective study was to compare pregnancy care and outcomes between Black and Hispanic (underrepresented) and White women with MS.

Methods: Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records of 9 US MS centers for women with MS/clinically isolated syndrome who delivered live births between 2010 and 2021.

Impact of a Virtual Wellness Program on Quality of Life Measures for Patients Living With Multiple Sclerosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were vulnerable to the effects of physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic. As patients returned to in-person visits, providers reported seeing increased weakness, balance issues, falls, worsening pain, and spasticity. Social isolation also contributed to increased stress, depression, and anxiety.

Peripartum disease activity in moderately and severely disabled women with multiple sclerosis.

Background: The effects of pregnancy on multiple sclerosis (MS) inflammatory activity are not well described in women with moderate to severe disabilities.

Objective: To quantify the peripartum annualized relapse rate (ARR) in women with MS with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≥ 3.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 85 pregnancies in 74 subjects with preconception EDSS ≥ 3.

Support Group Participation: Effect on Perceptions of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Patients newly diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis (MS) face an overwhelming number of questions about how it will affect their lives. Participation in a support group is one way to obtain information and receive support from others. However, existing support groups are often attended by patients with significant disability, resulting in newly diagnosed patients being hesitant to return.

Capturing naturally occurring emotional suppression as it unfolds in couple interactions.

Most research examining the consequences of suppressing emotional expression has focused on either experimentally manipulated and conscious suppression, or self-reported suppression behavior. This study examined suppression as it naturally occurred in couple (n = 105) discussions regarding a challenging topic. A Suppression Index (SI) was created by calculating the difference between continuous self-reports of emotional experience, obtained using cued video recall, and coders' continuous ratings of expressed emotion.