Psychopathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a preliminary study with 27 ALS patients

Considering the few studies published on the psychopathology of ALS patients, we carried out a preliminary study evaluating depression, anxiety, emotional reactions and coping strategies in such patients. Twenty-seven ALS patients were included and evaluated using a semi-structured interview, after which they were asked to complete a questionnaire. The rater asessed the DSM-IV criteria for a major depressive episode, dysthymia and generalized anxiety, using the MADRS scale for depression, the Covi anxiety scale and the Depressive Mood scale. Subsequently, patients completed the Ways of Coping checklist. Patients were neither anxious nor depressed. Patients whose diagnosis was recent (less than six months) presented greater emotional deficit. Patients younger than 50 years of age used problem focused strategies more frequently. Those having received the diagnosis in the preceeding six months used emotion focused strategies significantly more often.The absence of characterized depression and anxiety confirmed results of the literature. The significance of this study is found in the observation of specific emotional reactions present in the first six months following diagnosis disclosure. The results show that it is useful to continue the affective evaluation of these patients and to undertake longitudinal studies starting at the time of diagnosis disclosure.