This essay will examine the disease multiple sclerosis (MS). This work will emphasize the pathophysiological, psychosocial, economic and cognitive effects it has on the individual, family and society. It will also be mentioned how a professional nurse would support the individual, the family/carer, the nursing process and the professional role of the nurse according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code of practice which sets a standard for all nurses. and midwives (NMC, 2008). It was chosen because this chronic disorder is quite common in the UK. Primarily, the term MS refers to a chronic disorder that attacks the central nervous system (CNS). It is more common in temperate continents such as Europe and Australia, while Asian and African continents have a lower risk of contracting the disease (Wiley Online Library, 2013). Research organized by the Multiple Sclerosis Society (2013) estimated that there are 127,000 people living with MS in the UK. Further research by Chipps, Clanin and Campbell (1992, pp. 158-167) shows that the MS disorder is more likely to affect women than men with its symptoms most often occurring between the ages of 20 and 40 and it is quite rare in childhood and old age. age. Nerve cells known as neurons in the brain constantly transmit and receive signals. They evoke emotions, activities and cognitions that constitute the daily experiences of human beings. Under normal circumstances, these signals travel on a protected insulating pathway known as the myelin sheath. This isolation is vital as it allows the signals to reach their target. In multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath disintegrates causing damage to the nerve fiber, resulting in disruption of the abili...... middle of paper ......ance/index.jsp?action=download&o=47645> [ Accessed 6 December 2013].NMC, 2008. The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. [online] Available at: [Accessed 13 November 2013].Rush, S., Fergy, S., Wells, D., 1996. Nursing Process. [pdf] Available at: [Accessed 5 December 2013].The Dana Foundation, 2013. Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis [online] Available at: < http://www.dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail .aspx?id =39986> [Accessed December 6, 2013].Wiley Online Library, 2013. The Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis [online] Available at: <. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0404.1997.tb08143.x/abstract> [Accessed 5 December 2013].