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Published on: December 9, 2015
Antidepressant use in multiple sclerosis: epidemiologic study of a large community sample
K Cetin1, K L Johnson, D M Ehde
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|July 12, 2007
Summary
Many individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience depressive symptoms but are not treated with antidepressants. This study found factors associated with antidepressant use in MS patients, highlighting potential undertreatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Depression is more prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients than in the general population or those with other chronic illnesses.
- Understanding antidepressant use patterns in MS is crucial due to the high comorbidity of depressive disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of antidepressant medication use among adults with MS.
- To identify factors associated with antidepressant use in this population.
- To explore potential undertreatment of depression in individuals with MS.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 542 community-dwelling adults diagnosed with MS.
- Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of antidepressant use.
- Data collected on demographics, clinical factors, and medication usage.
Main Results:
- 35% of the MS sample reported current use of at least one antidepressant medication.
- Factors significantly associated with antidepressant use included gender, marital status, insurance status, fatigue, and use of disease-modifying therapies.
- Over half of the participants reported clinically significant depressive symptoms, with a majority not using antidepressants.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of individuals with MS experiencing depressive symptoms may be undertreated.
- Further research is needed to understand the barriers and facilitators of antidepressant use in the MS population.
- Clinical trials evaluating depression therapies in MS are warranted to improve patient outcomes.
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