Psychiatric disturbances in radiologically isolated syndrome

Gray Matter Involvement in Radiologically Isolated Syndrome

“…47 Based on previous studies regarding clinical depression and its neurobiological basis, 48 we hypothesized that these findings could represent a structural brain trait factor for developing psychological disorders, thereby providing a plausible biological explanation for the high rates of psychiatric disturbances observed in RIS patients. 4 Second, posterior cingulate cortex was found to be significantly thinner bilaterally. Posterior cingulate cortex is known to be commonly affected by neurodegenerative diseases and has recently been showed to be particularly thinner in long-standing MS patients.…”

“…Overall, these findings are totally in keeping with the clinical picture observed in RIS patients, characterized by null physical disability but high rates of cognitive and psychiatric disorders. 4,5 …”

Evaluation of quality of life and fatigue in radiologically isolated syndrome

“…Research into MS has focused on the relationship between clinical effects of the disease, such as disability, pain, fatigue, psychological and cognitive symptoms, and disease-modifying treatments, as well as the social characteristics that can affect QoL. A recent study demonstrated that RIS patients have high rates of anxiety, depression and somatization that correlate with fatigue and a poorer HRQOL [10]. Cognitive impairment (CI) is also present at all stages of disease, and limits work and social activities.…”

Radiologically isolated syndrome: An update on a rare entity

“…18 In addition, RIS patients reported significantly higher symptom loads for somatization compared to both CIS and control groups. 18 Remarkably, almost 40% of subjects with RIS had depression with high levels of anxiety, a figure three times higher than that found in CIS patients and significantly increased compared to healthy controls. 18 The identification of depression with more severe anxiety symptoms should not be taken lightly since, compared to non-anxious depression, it has been associated with a much worse prognosis.…”

“…18 The identification of depression with more severe anxiety symptoms should not be taken lightly since, compared to non-anxious depression, it has been associated with a much worse prognosis. 18 Although these results might reasonably be attributed to the unpredictability and uncertainty related to the lack of a definite diagnosis of RIS subjects, based on results from several MRI studies, which have demonstrated that demyelinating injury accounts for a meaningful percent of the variance in MS-related depression, [19][20][21] we think that RIS subjects might be at high risk of depression, causally associated with RIS underlying brain tissue abnormalities (white matter lesions and normal-appearing white matter damage within specific neural networks) rather than representing a reactive psychological process.…”