title: Longitudinal association between depressive symptoms and walking impairment in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Worsening depressive symptoms and walking impairment are significant burdens in multiple sclerosis. We explored the reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and walking impairment in a cohort of 269 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis over 2 years. The data were examined using longitudinal panel analysis in Mplus. Baseline depressive symptoms predicted change in walking impairment at 1-year follow-up (path coefficient = .074), and change in walking impairment at 1-year follow-up predicted change in depressive symptoms at 2-year follow-up (path coefficient = .177). Our study provides preliminary evidence for initiation of a reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and walking impairment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
authors.forename: Ipek
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ensari
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
authors.forename: Brynn C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
keywords: chronic illness; cohort; depression; path analysis; physical activity