Shades of decision making in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review on economic, medical and under risk conditions choices.

BACKGROUND

Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic and demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, is often associated with challenges in decision-making (DM). This systematic review aims to evaluate the performance of patients with different subtypes of MS in DM tasks, focusing on connections with cognitive impairments, emotional changes, and brain structural alterations.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search, following PRISMA guidelines, for all peer-reviewed articles. We searched the following databases: Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. This review has been registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO 2024) with the number CRD42024503190.

RESULTS

Our electronic searches identified 443 papers. After reading the full text of the selected publications and applying predefined inclusion criteria, we included 18 studies based on their pertinence and relevance to the topic.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the multifaceted nature of DM deficits in individuals with MS. These difficulties result from cognitive impairments such as working memory, brain structural changes, and emotional processing challenges including depression. Our findings present a comprehensive synthesis of the complexities surrounding DM in MS, emphasizing the need for future research to better understand these relationships and their implications for enhancing patient quality of life and autonomy in DM processes.