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Predictors of anxiety in multiple sclerosis
Narineh Hartoonian1, Alexandra L Terrill2, Meghan L Beier2
1Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System.
Rehabilitation Psychology
|December 16, 2014
Summary
Anxiety in multiple sclerosis (MS) is predicted by nonsomatic depressive symptoms and employment. The link between depression and anxiety symptoms changes as the disease progresses.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition impacting quality of life.
- Anxiety is a common comorbidity in individuals with MS, affecting disease management and well-being.
- Understanding the specific drivers of anxiety in MS is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key predictors of anxiety symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis.
- To examine how somatic and nonsomatic depressive symptoms differentially influence anxiety over time in MS patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 513 individuals with MS completed a baseline survey and a 4-month follow-up.
- Hierarchical regression analysis was used to assess predictors of anxiety, including demographic, disease-related, and psychological variables.
- The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety was the primary outcome measure.
Main Results:
- Baseline anxiety, employment status, and nonsomatic depressive symptoms significantly predicted anxiety at follow-up.
- Significant interactions were found between time since MS onset and both somatic and nonsomatic depressive symptoms.
- Nonsomatic depressive symptoms were more associated with anxiety early in the disease course, while somatic symptoms became more prominent later.
Conclusions:
- Nonsomatic depressive symptoms and employment are significant predictors of anxiety in individuals with MS.
- The relationship between depression and anxiety in MS is dynamic, evolving over the disease's progression.
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