Apparently, a "yes" answer to one or both of these is a pretty good indicator of depression. However, what about the person suffering from fatigue related to multiple sclerosis (MS)? I can tell you that when I am fatigued (around 11:00 am on muggy July mornings, for instance), I sure as heck have no interest in anything except feeling better - and, damn straight, I am sad about it. Sometimes this feeling lasts for days on end. Last summer it was months in a row without relief.
Is this depression? Is this fatigue? Is it a combination? I guess what is hard here is not just seeking a diagnosis, but determining how to treat the problem - I think depression should be treated by psychiatrists, plain and simple. However, how many of them specialize in MS and would have a general understanding of what the physiological effects of MS-related fatigue are? If you are unfamiliar with the fatigue induced by MS, it sounds rather unbelievable (and, frankly, falls right along the lines of many of the depression symptoms).
Anyway, the point of all of this is that while there are treatments for both fatigue and depression, treating either or both of these in the patient with MS takes some skill and patience to get right. Hang in there and don't give up. Remember, this is not your fault.
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I have just read your article, as i was looking for something under the head line ms fatigue and depression.I have been trying to find the right words to tell dr and friends how I am feeling.I just can’t get it into words,is it Just the horrible fatigue, is it worsening sensory (which I find terrible), is is mentally fed up is it dementia. I know I feel horrible and I am really fed up, but I think it is Fatigue which just makes me feel terribk le both mentally and physically. How can we ever describe it to Drs, or anyone else. Even other Ms people don’t seem to get the seriousness of what I am trying to describe.Your article helped me. I think you might understand.