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Depression and quality of life in multiple sclerosis
Author(s) -
Fruewald S.,
LoefflerStastka H.,
Eher R.,
Saletu B.,
Baumhacki U.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2001.00022.x
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , quality of life (healthcare) , anxiety , multiple sclerosis , medicine , comorbidity , psychiatry , clinical psychology , nursing , economics , macroeconomics
Objectives – Health related quality of life (QoL) has gained increasing influence as a relevant evaluation criterion in multiple sclerosis. The high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in MS is, however, hardly ever considered in studies concerning QoL. Materials and methods – In 60 patients of a MS outpatient clinic, symptoms of anxiety (Zung Anxiety Scale) and depression (Zung Depression Scale), as well as the health‐related quality of life were rated and set into relation to the EDSS and to the duration of illness, respectively. Results – There was a highly significant correlation between depression as well as anxiety and the self‐assessed quality of life. Depression was the by far strongest predictor for reduced QoL. Conclusion – Clinical studies, which seek to register the increasingly important evaluation criterion of health‐related quality of life in MS, should consider the prevalence of depressive disorders and the decisive effect of depression on the self‐assessed quality of life of affected patients.