Norwegian Researchers Confirm Higher Rates
of Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in People with MS
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Medical Update Memo
April 21, 2008
SUMMARY
Researchers in Norway found symptoms of depression
and anxiety to be significantly higher among
people with MS compared with those without
MS. This study provides important data on
the occurrence of emotional changes in people
with
MS, and the necessity to increase treatment
of these symptoms.
DETAILS
A. Antonie G. Beiske, MD (University Hospital,
Akershus, NO) and colleagues report their findings
in the European Journal of Neurology (2008
Mar;15(3):239-45). This work was funded by
the Norwegian MS Society, the Hølands
legacy, the Per B. Larsens legacy, the Kjell
Alames Legacy and the Bergen MS Society.
Emotional changes are very common in MS, both
as a reaction to the stress of living with
a chronic, unpredictable illness and because
of neurologic changes caused by the disease.
Severe depression, mood swings, irritability,
and episodes of uncontrollable laughing and
crying pose significant challenges for people
with MS and their family members.
Dr. Beiske’s team studied depression
and anxiety in people with MS in four municipalities
in Eastern Norway. They were able to collect
and analyze data on 140 patients who underwent
clinical and neuropsychiatric examinations.
Patients were excluded if they had severe cognitive
or psychiatric impairment or a serious medical
condition other than MS that would preclude
participation. The data were compared with
the results of a 2001 study of general and
mental health in Norway. Clinical measures
used included the HSCL-25, a short, simple
checklist of symptoms of anxiety and depression.
In the group with MS, fatigue was assessed
as well. Participants with MS were asked if
they had obtained treatment from a psychiatrist
or psychologist, or if they felt an unmet need
for treatment of anxiety or depression.
A total of 31.4% of people with MS reported
symptoms of depression, significantly higher
than the 16.1% reported in the general population;
19.3% of people with MS had anxiety, significantly
higher than the 10.9% among controls.
In the group with MS, fatigue and younger age
at onset were significantly associated with
symptoms of depression. Symptoms of anxiety
were associated with fatigue and pain, less
disease activity and younger age at onset.
Compared to those without fatigue, those with
fatigue were almost four times as likely to
have depressive symptoms and more than five
times as likely to have symptoms of anxiety.
In addition, individuals with pain were more
than four times as likely to have symptoms
of anxiety. Only 15.9% reported having undergone
treatment for depression and 11.1% for anxiety.
Of untreated people who reported having these
symptoms, 18.2% expressed the need for treatment.
“Symptoms of depression and anxiety
both independently and in interaction with
other MS symptoms affect patients’ functioning,” write
the authors. “Thus, depressive and anxiety
symptoms have to be identified and treated,
and not interpreted as a natural and inevitable
consequence of the disease course.”
[With information from the National MS Society (USA)]
ASK MS Information System Code: 1.7.1.4 aa
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Disclaimer
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is an independent, voluntary health
agency and does not approve, endorse or recommend any specific product or therapy,
but provides information to assist individuals in making their own decisions.
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