RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PERCEPTION OF THE SEVERITY OF DISEASE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Luísa Pedro / José Luís Pais Ribeiro Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa -Portugal) Faculdade Psicologia Ciências Educação - U. Porto – Portugal Luisa.pedro@estesl.ipl.pt/ jlpr@fpce.up.pt Results: The correlations between perception severity of disease and domains of MSQOL-54: Physical Health (r=0.26, p<0.05), Physical Role Limitations (r=0.22, p<0.05), Emotional Role Limitations (r=0.14, p<0.05), Pain (r=0.19, p<0.05), Well-being (r=0.21, p<0.05), Energy (r=0.19, p<0.05), Health in General (r=0.42, p<0.01), Social function (r=0.23, p<0.05), Cognitive Function NS, Health Distress (r=0.30, p<0.05), Overall Qol (r=0.37, p<0.05), Satisfaction with sexual function (r=0.16, p<0.05), Change Health (r=0.28, p<0.05), . Conclusion: Results show that there is a statistically significant correlations between the variables, suggesting that quality of life can play an impo0rtant role in the adjustment to the disease. Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease, with onset typically in early adult life. Although its course is unpredictable, potentially severe consequences may develop during the course of the disease. The aim of the present study is perception of the severity of disease in quality of life in patients with MS. Material: The Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Scale (MSQol-54) and one question about disease perception “What`s your perceptions about the severity of your illness? Methods: 280 patients with MS were recruited of C.Hospital in Lisbon. In the study if they met the following criteria: being diagnosed at least 1 year ago, EDSS score under 7. The mean age was 40 years (range 18- 65), 71.3% were women,61.1% were currently married, 63% active workers, mean school level of 12 years, and scores of EDSS is 2.8 Methods: the study is cross-sectional and correlational