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CC BY 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2024; 82(S 01): S1-S52
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1789337
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Anxiety and depression in multiple sclerosis: prevalence and associated factors

Clayton Zoccoli
1   Hospital São Camilo, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
,
Isabella Avolio
1   Hospital São Camilo, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
,
Olivia Pires
1   Hospital São Camilo, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
,
Mateus Boaventura de Oliveira
1   Hospital São Camilo, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
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    Address for correspondence: Mateus Boaventura de Oliveira (email: mateusboaventura@yahoo.com.br).

    Abstract

    Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, autoimmune, and demyelinating disease. Comorbidities such as anxiety and depression, by themselves, can lead to cognitive deficits, and their presence associated with MS can have impacts on the patient’s quality of life and their symptoms.

    Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients diagnosed with MS, and to investigate the impact of these comorbidities on physical disability and cognitive scales.

    Methods: The present is an observational, cross-sectional, retrospective, and single-center study. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was applied to determine the prevalence of the aforementioned comorbidities. Scores ≥ 8 on each of the HADS subscales were used to define a clinically-meaningful anxiety or depression disorder. Statistical associations were performed with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29).

    Results: A total of 99 subjects were included in the study (77.8% of female individuals, with a mean age of 39.8±10.6 years, and a mean disease duration of 9.5±7.3 years). Anxiety and depression were identified in 51 (51.5%) and 39 (39.4%) patients respectively. The median and interquartile range scores for anxiety and depression were of 8 (4–12) and 6 (3–10) respectively. Patients with anxiety and depression had a higher MFIS score (p < 0.001) and a higher MSIS-29 score (p < 0.001). There were no differences between patients with and without anxiety or depression regarding other scales, such as the EDSS, and all BICAMS tests.

    Conclusion: Multiple sclerosis patients with anxiety and depression demonstrated higher fatigue and global impact disease scores. Although the data do not demonstrate a causal relationship, the treatment of the comorbidities is relevant to determine the improvement of the most impaired functions.


     

    No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

    Publication History

    Article published online:
    02 October 2024

    © 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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