Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40553376›Full record

ArticleActa neurologica Belgica2026

Understanding stigma in multiple sclerosis: workplace discrimination, social challenges and psychological impacts.

Nazlı Gamze Bülbül, Abdulkadir Tunç, Sena Destan Bünül, Serkan Demir, Meral Seferoğlu, Ali Özhan Sıvacı, Selma Aksoy, İpek Güngör Doğan, Ülgen Yalaz Tekan, Nefise Eda Arslanoğlu and 3 more

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Article in Acta neurologica Belgica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Nazlı Gamze BülbülDepartment of Neurology, University Of Health Sciences, Sultan Abdulhamid Han Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. nzl.gmzb@gmail.com.
Abdulkadir TunçFaculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey.
Sena Destan BünülFaculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Serkan DemirDepartment of Neurology, Sancaktepe Şehir Prof Dr İlhan Varank Research and Training Hospital, University Of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey.
Meral SeferoğluDepartment of Neurology, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Research and Training Hospital, University Of Health Sciences,, Bursa, Turkey.
Ali Özhan SıvacıDepartment of Neurology, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Research and Training Hospital, University Of Health Sciences,, Bursa, Turkey.
Selma AksoyFaculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University,, Çanakkale, Turkey.
İpek Güngör DoğanDepartment of Neurology, Sancaktepe Şehir Prof Dr İlhan Varank Research and Training Hospital, University Of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey.
Ülgen Yalaz TekanDepartment of Neurology, Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Research and Training Hospital, University Of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey.
Nefise Eda ArslanoğluDepartment of Neuropsychology, Sultan Abdulhamid Han Research and Training Hospital, University Of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey.
Samet ÖncelDepartment of Neurology, Sakarya Training and Research Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey.
Rıfat Erdem ToğrolDepartment of Neurology, University Of Health Sciences, Sultan Abdulhamid Han Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hüsnü EfendiFaculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStigmatization in MS patients is an important problem that affects social interaction, work life and daily life. In this study, we investigated the prevalence, severity and especially the effects of stigmatization on work life in MS patients.

methodsA cross-sectional study of 420 people living with MS (PwMS) assessed stigma using the NeuroQoL Stigma Short Form and a direct stigma survey. Demographic, clinical, workplace, and social data were collected through an online survey. Statistical analyses were performed.

resultsStigma was prevalent, with 77% reporting stigma in direct surveys and 67.6% scoring > 8 on the NeuroQoL Stigma Short Form. Stigma was more severe in patients with progressive MS and higher EDSS scores. The most disturbing symptoms were fatigue (73.3%), imbalance (46.7%) and attention deficit 50.5%). The most prominent complaint affecting work life was fatigue (41.2%). Only 7.3% of the patients had sought psychological support for this issue. 57.4% of patients had disclosed their illness to their employer and 68.1% to their coworkers.

conclusionsStigma in MS is pervasive, linked to clinical severity, workplace challenges, and social withdrawal. Interventions targeting stigma's psychological and social dimensions, along with workplace education and support are essential.

Indexed as

Multiple SclerosisSocial DiscriminationSocial StigmaWorkplaceAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQuality of LifeMultiple sclerosisPsychological supportSocial interactionStigmaWorkplace challenges

Identifiers

PMID40553376

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.