Proposal for summing the incapacity status or environmental status scores.

Factor analysis was performed on the scores of variables of the Incapacity Status (ISS) and the Environmental Status Scale (ESS) in 184 MS patients. The aim of the study was to examine the relation between these variables and to examine the possibilities of using a summation process on scores. It proved that summing scores of the ISS conceals important information on communication disorders and on bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunctions. It was suggested to use three, composed variables of the ISS and the five variables of the ESS in the summation to produce a figure which reflects the handicaps of the patients.