Disease activity and emotional state in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease affecting the central nervous system.
• Emotional disturbances are frequently observed in MS patients, impacting quality of life.
• Understanding the prevalence and nature of these disturbances is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively investigate the prevalence and characteristics of emotional disturbance in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
• To compare emotional disturbance rates in MS patients with spinal cord-injured (SCI) controls.
• To identify factors associated with emotional disturbance in MS.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 64 MS patients and 23 SCI control patients.
• Administration of the 28-item subscale General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) to assess emotional disturbance.
• Comparison of GHQ scores between MS patient subgroups (remission vs. exacerbation/progressive) and SCI controls.

Main Results:

• MS patients with acute exacerbation or progressive disease had significantly higher mean GHQ scores (15.7) compared to those in remission (4.4) (p < 0.001).
• Prevalence of emotional disturbance was 90% in exacerbating/progressing MS patients, 39% in stable MS patients, and 12% in SCI controls.
• Emotional disturbance in MS was not correlated with age, sex, disease duration, severity, or disability level.

Conclusions:

• Emotional disturbance is highly prevalent in MS, particularly during active disease phases.
• Stable MS patients and SCI controls exhibit lower rates of emotional disturbance.
• Somatic complaints, anxiety, and social dysfunction are more common than depression in remitting MS patients.