Fear of Disease Progression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Associations of Anxiety, Depression, Quality of Life, Social Support and Knowledge

Abstract

Purpose: Fear of progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) can exert deleterious effects upon MS patients. A host of causes may give rise to fear of progression of multiple sclerosis. Hence, the present study set out to assess the role of psychological aspects of family support, quality of life, and multiple sclerosis knowledge in fear of progression of MS. Methods: Sixty five MS patients were recruited for this study. Data were obtained by using multiple questionnaires including Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge Questionnaire (MSKQ), Fear of progression questionnaire - Short form (FoPQ-SF), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), World health organization’s quality of life- brief (WHQOL-BRIEF). Results: age and level of education were not associated with the score of other questionnaires. Depression, anxiety, MS knowledge and three subcategories of WHOQOL-BREF (Environment, Social relationship and Psychological health) were correlated to fear of progression of MS (P<0.001). Anxiety was positively predictive of fear of progression of MS; nonetheless, MS knowledge and QOL-Psychological health were inversely associated with fear of progression of MS (P<0.05). Conclusion: The present study suggests that anxiety, MS knowledge and QOL-Psychological health are associated with fear of progression of MS. Thus, these parameters can be utilizedfor management and health-care policies of MS.