Long-term emotional state of multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the long-term emotional state of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with interferon beta (IFNbeta) for at least four years.


METHODS
Patients who had started IFNbeta therapy prior to 2000 with a baseline psychological assessment were identified and scheduled for long-term emotional assessment with the following questionnaires--the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.


RESULTS
A total of 262 patients started IFNbeta therapy in our MS clinic within the period 1995-1999. Baseline emotional assessment was available from 246 MS patients. Long-term assessment was conducted on 234 patients. After a mean follow-up of 65 months (43-98), 52 patients (22.3%) had withdrawn from IFNbeta therapy. The comparisons, obtained from baseline and follow-up scores, showed an improvement in the depressive and anxiety symptoms of patients who adhered to IFNbeta treatment. Logistic regression analysis indicated that an increase in physical disability and the presence of depressive symptoms at baseline were best predictors for long-term depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results support the absence of emotional worsening in MS patients treated with IFNbeta for a long period of time. Increased disability and the presence of baseline depressive symptoms predicted the presence of depressive symptoms at follow-up.
Porcel
J
J
Unitat de Neuroimmunologia Clínica, Hospital Universitari Vail d'Hebron, Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. jporcel@vhebron.net
Río
J
J
Sánchez-Betancourt
A
A
Arévalo
M J
MJ
Tintoré
M
M
Téllez
N
N
Borràs
C
C
Nos
C
C
Montalbán
X
X
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta