Fatigue, depression, and physical impairment in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease impacting quality of life.
• Fatigue, depression, and physical impairment are prevalent symptoms in MS patients.
• Understanding the interrelationships between these symptoms is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between depression, physical impairment, and fatigue in an Iranian cohort of MS patients.
• To compare these symptom correlations with a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 50 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 50 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited.
• Standardized questionnaires assessed depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - HADS), physical impairment (Expanded Disability Status Scale), and fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale).

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited significantly higher depression scores than HCs (P < 0.001).
• In MS patients, depression correlated with fatigue (r = 0.54, P = 0.01) but not physical impairment (r = 0.16, P = 0.01).
• Fatigue in MS patients was associated with both depression (r = 0.54, P = 0.01) and physical impairment (r = 0.36, P = 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Fatigue in multiple sclerosis is significantly associated with both depression and physical impairment.
• Interventions targeting depression or physical impairment may positively impact fatigue levels in MS patients.
• This highlights the interconnectedness of key symptoms in MS, suggesting a holistic approach to treatment.