Prospective examination of anxiety and depression before and during confirmed and pseudoexacerbations in patients with multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study was designed to determine whether pseudoexacerbations and confirmed MS exacerbations are preceded by or concurrent with increased anxiety or depressive symptoms.

Methods

This was a secondary analysis of 121 patients with MS who were observed for 48 weeks during a randomized controlled trial. Participants completed monthly self-reports on depressive and anxiety symptoms. Patient-reported exacerbations were assessed through a telephone-administered symptom checklist and neurologic examination.

Results

Both pseudoexacerbations and confirmed exacerbations were associated with concurrent somatic depressive (β = .16 and β = .33, respectively; p values < .05), affective depressive (β = .17 [p = .02] and β = .12 [p = .06]), and anxiety symptoms (β = .24 a

SUBMITTER: Burns MN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3538885 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature