title: Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Attending the MS Clinic at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, UAE: Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: Depression and anxiety are reported to be prevalent in patients with MS, with prevalence rates ranging from 20% to 50%. Unfortunately, the rates, patterns, and risk factors are not well studied in our Middle East region, and, to our knowledge, not at all in UAE. Using standardized screening tools, we observed that 17% and 20% of 80 patients seen in MS clinic had scores consistent with major depression and anxiety disorders, respectively, at a rate that was not statistically different when compared to age and sex matched controls. None of the studied variables including duration of the disease, EDSS scores, age, gender, and the level of education had any significant correlation with the rates of both disorders. Almost two-thirds of the patients with scores consistent with major depression and anxiety were not on antidepressant and antianxiety medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Taoufik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alsaadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Khadija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El Hammasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Tarek M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Shahrour
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakra
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Lamya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Turkawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Abdulla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mudhafar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Diab
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Mufeed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raoof