Depression and quality of life in multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
Health related quality of life (QoL) has gained increasing influence as a relevant evaluation criterion in multiple sclerosis. The high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in MS is, however, hardly ever considered in studies concerning QoL.


METHODS
In 60 patients of a MS outpatient clinic, symptoms of anxiety (Zung Anxiety Scale) and depression (Zung Depression Scale), as well as the health-related quality of life were rated and set into relation to the EDSS and to the duration of illness, respectively.


RESULTS
There was a highly significant correlation between depression as well as anxiety and the self-assessed quality of life. Depression was the by far strongest predictor for reduced QoL.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical studies, which seek to register the increasingly important evaluation criterion of health-related quality of life in MS, should consider the prevalence of depressive disorders and the decisive effect of depression on the self-assessed quality of life of affected patients.
Fruehwald
S
S
Clinical Department of Social Psychiatry, Vienna University Medical School, Vienna, Austria. stefan.fruehwald@univie.ac.at
Loeffler-Stastka
H
H
Eher
R
R
Saletu
B
B
Baumhackl
U
U
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life