Introduction Anxiety and depression are among the most common psychiatric comorbidities in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. These disorders could lead to significant emotional disturbances. Objectives To study the different dimensions of alexithymia in patients with MS and determine their relationship with anxiety and depression. Methods Our study, descriptive and analytical, focused on patients followed for MS at the neurology department in Sfax (Tunisia). In addition to collecting sociodemographic data, we used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess anxiety and depressive symptoms and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) to assess alexithymia and its three dimensions: difficulty identifying emotions (DIE), difficulty differentiating emotions (DDE), and externally oriented thinking (EOT). Results This study included 93 patients followed for MS. Our results showed a prevalence of 58.1% for alexithymia, 38.7% for anxiety and 26.9% for depression. The median score of the dimension DIE was 22. The median score of the dimension DDE was 17. The mean score for the dimension EOT was 26.96 ± 4.18. Alexithymic patients were more anxious and depressed (p = 0,002 and p < 10-3, respectively). Both dimensions DIE and DDE were associated with anxiety (p = 0.001 and p = 0.022, respectively) and depression (p < 10-3 and p < 10-3, respectively). Non-depressed patients had a higher score on the EOT dimension (p = 0.003). Conclusions Our results showed a relationship between depression, anxiety and alexithymia, hence the importance of looking for alexithymia in MS patients with anxiety or depressive symptoms. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Introduction Alexithymia, the lack of words to express emotions, is a common problem in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Objectives To investigate the prevalence of alexithymia in patients with MS and to evaluate the factors related to it, including depression. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, which took place in the neurology department in Sfax (Tunisia). It involved MS outpatients in remission phase. Data collection was done using a form exploring sociodemographic, clinical and radiological characteristics. We used the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) to evaluate neurological impairments, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) to assess alexithymia, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess depressive symptoms. Results Our study included 93 patients. They were married in 57% of cases. The total number of relapses ranged from 1 to 30, with a median of 5. The EDSS score ranged from 0 to 8. A temporal lesion on brain imaging was found in 29% of cases. MS patients had alexithymia in 58.1% of cases and depression in 26.9% of cases. Alexithymia was more frequent in unmarried patients (p = 0.028). Among clinical and radiological factors, the number of relapses was higher (p = 0.035), and temporal lesion was more frequent in alexithymic patients (p = 0.045). In this study, alexithymic patients were more depressed (p < 10-3). Conclusions According to our results, depression and alexithymia were found to be significantly inter-related in MS. Future longitudinal studies might better clarify the nature of this relationship in MS patients. Disclosure No significant relationships.