P025 - A study of general health status and depression in multiple sclerosis patients and its relation with some of their individual characteristics in the Urmia City, Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract

Introduction Mental health is a branch of general health that mostly discusses about decreasing psychological disorders in community. Somatic illness is known as a prominent risk factor affecting psychological health. Multiple sclerosis is classified in central nervous system disorders that destroys different segments of brain and spinal cord, by immune system attacks. Depression is associated with most of multiple sclerosis patients and unfortunately suicidal thoughts is obvious in these patients. This problem effects cognitive abilities and quality of life of patients. Materials and method In this analytic/descriptive study, 142 multiple sclerosis sufferers admitted in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Neurology Department of Urmia University of Medical Science, were evaluated after randomized selection. Then the patients were educated about questionnaire. Data collection was carried out using 2 questionnaires, one General Health Questionnaire GHQ-28 and other Beck Depression Questionnaire BDI and demographic characteristics. The main objective of this study was general health and depression status determination in multiple sclerosis sufferers. Results and conclusion The determination of a significant association with age, sex, occupation, duration, treatment and stage of disorder with general health status, concerned with correlation of general health status and personal characteristics of patients is a difficult task to be performed. However, it was associated with education level and was statistically significant at P=0.01 Mental health is a branch of general health that mostly discusses about decreasing psychological disorders in community. Somatic illness is known as a prominent risk factor affecting psychological health. Multiple sclerosis is classified in central nervous system disorders that destroys different segments of brain and spinal cord, by immune system attacks. Depression is associated with most of multiple sclerosis patients and unfortunately suicidal thoughts is obvious in these patients. This problem effects cognitive abilities and quality of life of patients. In this analytic/descriptive study, 142 multiple sclerosis sufferers admitted in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Neurology Department of Urmia University of Medical Science, were evaluated after randomized selection. Then the patients were educated about questionnaire. Data collection was carried out using 2 questionnaires, one General Health Questionnaire GHQ-28 and other Beck Depression Questionnaire BDI and demographic characteristics. The main objective of this study was general health and depression status determination in multiple sclerosis sufferers. The determination of a significant association with age, sex, occupation, duration, treatment and stage of disorder with general health status, concerned with correlation of general health status and personal characteristics of patients is a difficult task to be performed. However, it was associated with education level and was statistically significant at P=0.01