Validation study of prevalence and correlates of depressive symptomatology in multiple sclerosis

To validate previous research findings on the prevalence of and factors associated with depressive symptoms in a community-dwelling sample of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).

A cross-sectional survey study of 530 individuals with MS from Eastern Washington (EW) was conducted and compared to a previous cross-sectional survey study of 738 individuals with MS from Western Washington (WW). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and multivariate logistic regression was employed to detect related factors.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms was similar in both populations (EW 51%, WW 45%). Factors associated with a clinically significant level of depressive symptoms (CES-D > or =16) in both groups were greater disease severity, shorter disease duration, lower education and less social support (all P<.01). Lower age was also associated with a significant level of depressive symptoms in the WW but not in the EW sample.

Despite differences in disease-related and demographic factors, predictors of depressive symptoms were highly similar in both MS study populations.