The chronic and progressively incapacitating nature of many neurological illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis, poses major challenges to the rehabilitative efforts. Approaches based solely on the pursuit of functional restitution incur the risk of failure and additional distress to the sufferers. Compensatory approaches have been consistently shown effective in the empowerment of individuals both to cope with daily life in the short run and to plan their life courses in the long run, thus regaining control and autonomy and improving well being. Compensation requires the establishment of a positive agenda. In this essay we establish a parallel between the processes of psychosocial adaptation to multiple sclerosis and normal adult development. Both similarities and differences are noted. We try to explore some perspectives derived from research models designed to study successful adult development in order to establish a positive agenda for individuals with multiple sclerosis.
multiple sclerosis; successful development; positive psychology; psychosocial adaptation
