Depression and anxiety amongst multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety amongst multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and the associations with demographic and clinical characteristics. The current treatment for depression and anxiety was also evaluated amongst the MS patients. A total of 140 MS patients from Eastern Norway underwent neuropsychiatric and clinical examinations, with registration of symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25), as well as information about any help seeking for depression were obtained. A total of 31.4% patients reported symptoms of depression, whilst 19.3% reported anxiety; both symptoms were significantly higher than that amongst the general population (P < 0.001). Fatigue and younger age at onset were significantly associated with symptoms of depression, whilst fatigue and pain, lower Expanded Disability Status Scale score and younger age at onset were associated with symptoms of anxiety. The proportion of reported treatment of depression was 15.9% and for anxiety 11.1%. Of untreated patients with symptoms, 18.2% expressed the need for treatment. A greater focus on depression and anxiety amongst MS patients is needed to establish the appropriate treatment for patients suffering from MS.

Anxiety and social activities in multiple sclerosis patients

“…The present study shows that persons with MS report symptoms of anxiety (20.2%) in a statistically significantly higher proportion than that in the normal population; these results are in line with other publications, for instance: Beiske, 19.3% [15]; Korostil, 18.6% [16]; Kehler, 25.0% [17]; and Dahl, 30.2% [18]. However, the prevalence of anxiety and its relation to socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the MS patient population is much less thoroughly investigated than prevalence of depression in the general population and needs much more attention from scientists [19].…”

“…After the multiple regression analysis, however, lower disability lost significance, but fatigue, pain and younger age at onset remained significantly associated with anxiety. Thus, our results agree with published figures and corroborate previous studies showing a high occurrence of anxiety symptoms in persons with MS [25]. The bio-psycho-social model of psychiatric disorders reminds us that not only biological and psychological factors, but also social factors, can play an important role in disease presentation,.…”

A reply to Gallagher, O'Donnell, Minescu, & Muldoon's commentary on ‘The effects of identification with a support group on the mental health of people with multiple sclerosis’

“…Conducting t-tests across the whole sample revealed that males were significantly more depressed and anxious than females, and had significantly lower life satisfaction. Intriguingly, these findings are generally inconsistent with the literature, which tends to show that females (regardless of whether or not they have multiple sclerosis) are more likely to experience mental health problems such as depression and anxiety [4,5].…”

Evaluación neuropsicológica en 129 pacientes chilenos con esclerosis múltiple recurrente remitente previo a inicio de fármacos inmunomoduladores

“…En este aspecto es preciso puntualizar que el instrumento usado por nosotros en la investigación de síntomas depresivos (cuestionario de Hamilton) no es el que predomina en la mayoría de las publicaciones sobre el tema en que se señala mayoritariamente el uso del inventario de Beck y la escala hospitalaria de depresión [30][31][32][33] . No obstante ello, nos pareció útil su uso debido a que constituye un instrumento aplicable a población ambulatoria consistente en una evaluación externa de los síntomas, que permite observar la evolutividad del cuadro y que brinda al entrevistador la posibilidad de distinguir las quejas somáticas debidas a un cuadro depresivo y las originadas por una afección médica.…”