ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for improving mental health and social functions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2016), CBM and CNKI from inception to May 2016, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCT) about CBT on mental health and social function in patients with MS. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 11 RCTs involving 1 102 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, the HADS scores (depression: MD=-1.28, 95%CI-2.07 to-0.48, P=0.002; anxiety: MD=-1.52, 95%CI-2.99 to-0.06, P=0.04), BDI scores (MD=-9.11, 95% CI-15.82 to-2.40, P=0.008), HRDS scores (MD=-7.23, 95% CI-13.65 to-0.82, P=0.03), Chalder scores (MD=-4.88, 95% CI-6.61 to-3.16, P < 0.000 01), MFIS scores (MD=-2.98, 95% CI-4.52 to-1.44, P=0.000 2) and GHQ-12 scores (MD=-3.61, 95%CI-5.20 to-2.02, P < 0.000 01) in the CBT group were lower than that in the control group. No significant difference was found in WSAS scores (MD=-1.98, 95%CI-4.88 to 0.93, P=0.18) between two groups. ConclusionCBT may be effective for improving the negative mental experience, fatigue and quality of life in MS. No evidence to support CBT has benefits in social functions. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusion needs to be verified by more high quality studies.