A pilot study of fear of disease consequences and its relationship with quality of life, depression and anxiety in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to determine the relationship between fear of disease consequences and its relationship with quality of life, symptoms of depression, and anxiety in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Seventy patients suffering from MS were selected using the convinced sampling method. Data collection tools were included: Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, World Health Organizations Quality of Life-Brief, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Descriptive statistical methods, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Spearman's correlation coefficient test, and linear regression model were used to analyze data by SPSS.22 software. Results: In this study, 38 (54.3%) of patients were male. Mean score of fear of the disease, quality of life, depression, and anxiety was 28.68 ± 9.18, 86.47 ± 14.11, 15.22 ± 4.86, and 15.85 ± 5.55, respectively. Results of Spearman's test indicated a significant relationship between fear of disease consequences on the one hand and quality of life (rs= −0.53), symptoms of depression (rs= −0.52), and anxiety (rs= −0.48) on the other hand (P