Depressive symptoms as a predictor of outcome in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is commonly associated with depression. Depression constitutes a major factor in distressing and disability symptoms among patients with MS. Objective The study aimed to investigate symptoms of depression in MS and explore its association with the degree of clinical disability. Patients and methods Thirty-one patients with definite MS, age range 20–50 years, and 20 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited for the study. The patients selected were subjected to a physical and psychiatric assessment, psychometric evaluation by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorder and Beck Depression Inventory for rating of depressive symptoms, and Expanded Disability Status Scale for the estimation of severity of disability symptoms. MRI of the brain and spine was performed for a definite diagnosis of MS. Results A total of 55% of MS patients have depressive symptoms of varying severity – 9% mild, 40% moderate, and 6% severe. MS patients with the secondary progressive course subtype have more depression and disability symptoms than patients with the relapsing remitting course subtype. Female patients are more likely to be depressed than male patients. We found no significant relation between depressive symptoms and total or regional size of MS by MRI. Conclusion Depression is common in MS patients and is correlated with the degree of disability in MS disorder.