In multiple sclerosis, cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) is associated with higher depression, insomnia,...

Cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) refers to a set of attentional symptoms comprising daydreaming, mental fogginess, and hypoactivity clearly distinguishable from ADHD-IN and other forms of psychopathological issues.

The present study: (1) assessed CDS among adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls, and (2) investigated the associations between CDS and depression, insomnia, fatigue, and paresthesia in persons with MS.

Two-hundred and seven adults with MS (mean age: 36.64 years; 72.5% females) and 213 healthy controls (mean age: 34.19 years; 54.5% females) provided self-ratings of CDS, insomnia, depression, fatigue, and paresthesia.

Compared to healthy controls, adults with MS reported higher scores for CDS (t(418 = 4.29, p < 0.001, d = 0.42), depressive symptoms (t(41) = 2.21, p = 0.014, d = 0.22), and insomnia (t(418) = 1.66, p = 0.049). Among the MS sample, higher levels of CDS were associated with higher depression (r = 0.64), insomnia (r = 0.34), fatigue (r = 0.53), and paresthesia (r = 0.28). Further, higher scores for depression, insomnia, and fatigue were independently associated with higher CDS.

Adults with MS experience greater CDS symptoms than healthy controls. Higher CDS scores were associated with depression, insomnia, fatigue, and paresthesia, which are typical of adults with MS. MS may contribute to or exacerbate CDS symptoms and be a potentially important target for further investigation.