title: Association between depression and survival in Chinese amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of depression, to identify correlated factors for depression, and to explore the impact on the progression or survival of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by depression in a Chinese population. A total of 166 ALS patients were recruited. Diagnosis of depression disorders and the severity of depression were established by using the fourth diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 items (HDRS-24) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Major depression was found in 15 patients (9.6 %). The multiple regression analysis showed that a lower ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score was correlated with increasing HDRS scores and BDI scores (P = 0.018 and P = 0.012). No significant difference in the median survival time between ALS patients with and without depression was revealed by Kaplan-Meier analysis (log-rank P = 0.282). Cox hazard model showed that the presence of depression in ALS was unrelated to the survival, while the severity of depression in ALS was correlated with the survival. The presence and severity of depression in ALS did not correlate with the progression of ALS. Major depression in ALS is uncommon. Depression evaluation should be given to ALS patients, especially those with lower ALSFRS-R score. The severity of depression may be associated with the survival; however, depression does not worse the progression of ALS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Zhenzhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Ruwei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Xueping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China. hfshang2002@126.com.
authors.forename: Huifang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shang
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R); Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Depression; Progression; Survival