Depression in patients with multiple sclerosis

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of depression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to analyze the link between depression and patient sex, age, clinical course of MS, disease duration, antidepressant intake, and degree of disability. Patients and methods: The study was conducted on 102 MS patients that had undergone inpatient rehabilitation at the Lipik Hospital in the period from May 15, 2015 to September 15, 2015. Data on patient age, sex, degree of disability, clinical course of MS, antidepressant use, and time elapsed from MS diagnosis were collected. The diagnosis of depressive syndrome was made using the Patient Health Questionnairenine (PHQ-9). Study patients were divided into two groups according to the depressive syndrome absence or presence. Results: The total number of respondents was 102, of which 31 (30.4%) met the criteria for depressive syndrome diagnosis. 10 (32.3%) out of the 31 patients were taking antidepressants. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the presence of depressive syndrome and higher level of disability (P = 0.028), whereas there was no correlation between the presence of depression and sex (P = 0.429), age (P = 0.652), disease duration (P = 0.549), and disease course (P = 0.326). Conclusion: The high rate of patients screened positive for depression and the fact that only one-third of these patients were taking antidepressants call for an active approach to diagnosis and the treatment of depression in MS patients.