Contributions
Abstract: P584
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neuropsychology
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic chronic inflammatory disease that has potential of causing disability and loss of function; these in turn have a stressful effect on the patient"s psychosocial wellbeing. Studies on MS in Saudi Arabia are scant particularly so on the psychological aspect of the disease. This study measures the severity of depression, anxiety and stress among Saudi patients, and compares the severity results to the type of Disease-Modifying Treatment (DMT) being used.
Methods: A cross sectional study targeted 301 Saudis with Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS), 18 years and older who have ever had a visit and an open file in any of these three large hospitals in Riyadh: King Khalid University Hospital, King Fahad Medical City, and Security Forces Hospital. Patients were contacted by a phone call, were informed about the study and their permission was taken before proceeding with the phone questionnaire. Demographic data and then questions of the DASS-21 were asked. Data analysis was done by using SPSS version 19.
Results: 301 responses were included in this study. Mean age of RRMS patients was 34 years (SD±10), and 69% were female. Half the recruited (149) used an Interferon, 58 patients used Fingolimod and 28 used Natalizumab. Mean scores for all subjects was 8.25 (SD±6.89) for depression, 3.30 (SD±3.83) for anxiety and 3.85 (SD±5.73) for stress. Categories (in percentages %) for depression were: 59.6 normal, 17 mild, 17 moderate, 6 severe and 0.4 extremely severe. For anxiety: 80.4 normal, 10.2 mild, 7.2 moderate, 2.1 severe and none had extremely severe anxiety. And for stress: 93.6 normal, 3 mild, 2.6 moderate, 0.9 severe and none had extremely severe stress. Depression scores were similar among all demographic and drug groups, anxiety scores were significantly higher in Interferon users (ANOVA) compared to Natalizumab, and stress scores were within normal limits, but had a statistical difference (ANOVA) between Fingolimod and Natalizumab which was dismissed for being clinically insignificant.
Conclusion: RRMS in Saudi patients was associated with mild to moderate depression secondary to the disease itself rather than a particular DMT. Mild anxiety was higher among Interferon users, which could be because of injection anxiety reasons. Comprehensive care, including psychiatric, for MS patients should be, therefore, encouraged regardless of patient"s demographic characteristics or the DMT that is being used.
Disclosure:
Fawaz Al-Hussain: nothing to disclose
Noura Al-Salloum: nothing to disclose
Jameelah Saeedi: nothing to disclose
Naael Al-Azwary: nothing to disclose
Sara Howaidi: nothing to disclose
Abdulkadir Daif: nothing to disclose
Abstract: P584
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neuropsychology
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic chronic inflammatory disease that has potential of causing disability and loss of function; these in turn have a stressful effect on the patient"s psychosocial wellbeing. Studies on MS in Saudi Arabia are scant particularly so on the psychological aspect of the disease. This study measures the severity of depression, anxiety and stress among Saudi patients, and compares the severity results to the type of Disease-Modifying Treatment (DMT) being used.
Methods: A cross sectional study targeted 301 Saudis with Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS), 18 years and older who have ever had a visit and an open file in any of these three large hospitals in Riyadh: King Khalid University Hospital, King Fahad Medical City, and Security Forces Hospital. Patients were contacted by a phone call, were informed about the study and their permission was taken before proceeding with the phone questionnaire. Demographic data and then questions of the DASS-21 were asked. Data analysis was done by using SPSS version 19.
Results: 301 responses were included in this study. Mean age of RRMS patients was 34 years (SD±10), and 69% were female. Half the recruited (149) used an Interferon, 58 patients used Fingolimod and 28 used Natalizumab. Mean scores for all subjects was 8.25 (SD±6.89) for depression, 3.30 (SD±3.83) for anxiety and 3.85 (SD±5.73) for stress. Categories (in percentages %) for depression were: 59.6 normal, 17 mild, 17 moderate, 6 severe and 0.4 extremely severe. For anxiety: 80.4 normal, 10.2 mild, 7.2 moderate, 2.1 severe and none had extremely severe anxiety. And for stress: 93.6 normal, 3 mild, 2.6 moderate, 0.9 severe and none had extremely severe stress. Depression scores were similar among all demographic and drug groups, anxiety scores were significantly higher in Interferon users (ANOVA) compared to Natalizumab, and stress scores were within normal limits, but had a statistical difference (ANOVA) between Fingolimod and Natalizumab which was dismissed for being clinically insignificant.
Conclusion: RRMS in Saudi patients was associated with mild to moderate depression secondary to the disease itself rather than a particular DMT. Mild anxiety was higher among Interferon users, which could be because of injection anxiety reasons. Comprehensive care, including psychiatric, for MS patients should be, therefore, encouraged regardless of patient"s demographic characteristics or the DMT that is being used.
Disclosure:
Fawaz Al-Hussain: nothing to disclose
Noura Al-Salloum: nothing to disclose
Jameelah Saeedi: nothing to disclose
Naael Al-Azwary: nothing to disclose
Sara Howaidi: nothing to disclose
Abdulkadir Daif: nothing to disclose