Affect, Emotions and Mood

Abstract

Demyelinating disorders are characterized by the destruction of the myelin sheaths of the nerves following normal myelin development. Types of demyelinating conditions can be generally characterized as immune-mediated diseases, infection- mediated diseases, inherited disorders, and toxic disorders (see (Table 20.1; and Joy and Johnston, 2001, for detailed review). This chapter will begin with a brief description of demyelinating conditions representing these categories. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating condition and will be the primary topic of this chapter.