A large-scale study of anxiety and depression in people with Multiple Sclerosis: a survey via the web portal of the UK MS Register

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have found that people with Multiple Sclerosis experience relatively high rates of anxiety and depression. Although methodologically robust, many of these studies had access to only modest sample sizes (N<200). The aims of this study were to use responses gained via the web portal of the UK MS Register (N>4000) to: describe the depression and anxiety profiles of people with MS; to determine if anxiety and depression are related to age or disease duration; and to assess whether the levels of anxiety and depression differ between genders and types of MS.

Methods: From its launch in May 2011 to the end of December 2011, 7786 adults with MS enrolled to take part in the UK MS Register via the web portal. The responses to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were collated with basic demographic and descriptive MS data provided at registration and the resulting dataset was analysed in SPSS (v.16).

Results: The mean HADS score among the 4178 respondents was 15.7 (SE 0.117, SD 7.55) with a median of 15.0 (IQR 11). Anxiety and depression rates were notably high, with over half (54.1%) scoring ≥ 8 for anxiety and 46.9% scoring ≥ 8 for depression. Women with relapsing-remitting MS were more anxious than men with this type (p<0.001), and than women with other types of MS (p = 0.017). Within each gender, men and women with secondary progressive MS were more depressed than men or women with other types of MS (p<0.001, p<0.001).

Conclusions: This largest known study of its kind has shown that anxiety and depression are highly prevalent in people with MS, indicating that their mental health needs could be better addressed. These findings support service planning and further research to provide the best care for people with MS to help alleviate these debilitating conditions.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1. Levels of anxiety in people with a depression score > = 8.

The proportions of people with different levels of anxiety (normal, mild, moderate or severe) and who have a depression score of 8 or above (N = 1961).

Figure 2. Levels of depression in people with an anxiety score > = 8.

The proportions of people with different levels of depression (normal, mild, moderate or severe) and who have an anxiety score of 8 or above (N = 2268).

Figure 3. Anxiety scores for men and women.

The anxiety scores for men and women are indicated. It can be seen that the women’s scores are higher than men’s.

Figure 4. Depression scores for men and women.

The depression scores for men and women are indicated. It can be seen that the men’s scores are higher than women’s.

Figure 5. Anxiety scores by MS type.

The variations in anxiety scores by type of MS are shown.

Figure 6. Depression scores by MS type.

The variations in depression scores by type of MS are shown.

Figure 7. Proportions of MS types among men.

The various proportions of MS types reported by the male respondents are shown.

Figure 8. Proportions of MS types among women.

The various proportions of MS types reported by the female respondents are shown.