English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Background  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a serious chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system of unknown etiology. MS-related depression is a common mood disorder recognized within the medical community. However, their association is ambiguous, underdiagnosed, undertreated and less reported.  Objectives  The study aimed to estimate the point prevalence and severity of depression among multiple sclerosis patients in Saudi Arabia.  Materials and methods  We conducted an observational cross-sectional study among multiple sclerosis patients in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. Patients filled demographic data and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to determine depression. Those who did not meet the age, disease duration, and regular follow-up eligibility criteria were excluded from the study.  Results  We enrolled 238 MS patients in the study, male patients represented 39.1% (n = 93) while females accounted for 60.9% (n = 145) (male:female ratio 0.64). The mean age of the study population was 32.07 ± 7.93 years. The mean duration of the disease was 7.06 ± 4.7 years. We determined that 89.9% (n = 214) of the patients showed mild to severe depression symptoms (55.46% of the females, and 34.4% of the males; p = 0.474). We further found that 37.39% (n = 89) and 65.13% (n = 155) of the depressed patients were unemployed (p = 0.039) and were non-smokers (p = 0.097) respectively. Furthermore, depression severity is significantly associated with education (p = 0.005).  Conclusion  High levels of depression symptoms were found among MS patients in Saudi Arabia. The relationship between MS and psychiatric conditions exists despite the uncertainty of its pathogenesis. Further longitudinal studies should be carried out to obtain more valid outcomes. Neurologists treating MS patients can play a role in studies related to the condition by investigating depressive symptoms actively and providing the data.

Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Saudi Arabia: Prevalence of Depression and its Extent of Severity