Depression is a predictor for balance in people with multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Balance impairments are prevalent and multifactorial in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Depression is the most common psychological disorder in MS, strongly correlated with disease progression.
• The link between depression and balance deficits in MS remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between depression and balance impairments in people with MS.
• To determine if depression predicts balance deficits in the MS population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design involving patients with MS.
• Balance assessed using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS).
• Depression quantified by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II); MS disability by the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
• Pearson correlation and multiple linear stepwise regression analyses were employed.

Main Results:

• 53% of 75 MS patients exhibited depression; mean age 38.8 years, mean EDSS 3.0.
• Depression showed significant correlations with balance measures (ABC, BBS) and EDSS.
• Regression analysis identified depression and age as significant predictors of balance.

Conclusions:

• Depression is frequent and significantly associated with balance impairments in MS.
• Depression is a key predictor of balance deficits in individuals with MS.
• Addressing depression is vital for effective balance rehabilitation in MS patients.