title: Neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the range of psychiatric symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their association with neurological disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with MS during 1998-2000 in Rogaland and Hordaland counties, western Norway, were included. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-six of 93 eligible MS patients were included, and 80% showed at least one psychiatric symptom. The most frequent symptoms were depression (59%), sleep disturbance (48%), irritability/emotional lability (42%), and apathy (31%). Depression was associated with higher disability score. MS patients showed significantly higher NPI irritability score (P = 0.002), appetite disturbance score (P < 0.001), and apathy score (P = 0.01) than SLE patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuropsychiatric symptoms occur frequently in patients with MS. Irritability and apathy are independent of disability and chronic disease and represent unique disease manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Figved
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klevan
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Myhr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glad
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nyland
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harboe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Omdal
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aarsland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales