#181: Stress and MS: factors, challenges and perspectives with Prof. Sigrid Arnade and Prof. Christoph Heesen

This episode is the English translation of my original German interview with Prof. Sigrid Arnade and Prof. Christoph Heesen, first published in April 2025. We explore what research currently tells us about stress and MS, where the evidence is still limited, and why psychological and social factors deserve a stronger place alongside biological aspects of multiple sclerosis care.

We discuss:

how severe stress and traumatic experiences may influence MS risk and disease activity why everyday stress is so difficult to study scientifically the difference between traumatic events and chronic stress resilience, self-efficacy and empowerment stress-management interventions and psychotherapy gaps in current MS research practical strategies for coping with stress why MS care should follow a genuinely biopsychosocial approach Useful links English blog article: https://ms-perspektive.de/en-181-stress/ Original German interview and blog article: Stress und MS. Faktoren, Herausforderungen und Perspektiven Lebensnerv Foundation: www.lebensnerv.de Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis (INIMS), Hamburg: www.inims.de "What is good for me, what is not good for me? And how can I strengthen the things that are good for me?" — Prof. Sigrid Arnade

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See you soon and try to make the best out of your life,

Nele

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