Heightened anxiety is often reported during a pandemic and this has featured widely during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. People with MS are known to experience higher levels of anxiety than any other population and pandemic situations could potentially heighten this experience due to factors such as interrupted treatment and impact on relationships crucial to effective MS care. Recent research examining the impact of COVID-19 on psychological wellbeing in people with MS noted the contrary to be the case, that no changes were experienced on the most part, and that some people even experienced improved wellbeing.
This study sought to examine the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with MS and to better understand the patient perspective.
A global sample of 300 people with MS were surveyed online during the COVID-19 key lockdown period between the months of April to June 2020. Participants were asked to indicate whether the main impact of the COVID-19 situation had been positive, negative or neutral for them. They were also asked to explain the thinking behind their response. A thematic analysis was carried out on this data.
Overall, across all MS participants, the most commonly reported experience related to worries and anxiety. Nevertheless, the majority of people in the sample reported a neutral impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by a negative impact being reported, and a positive impact was the least commonly reported. Where participants cited a positive impact, their explanation centred around finding some benefit in the situation. This was lacking for those who reported a negative impact, and an over-riding sense of anxiety and worry for themselves or others prevailed. Of those who reported a neutral impact, some indicated there was no real change in their current situation, and others cited a mixture of both positive and negative factors.
While the COVID-19 pandemic generated worrying and anxious thoughts in MS patients, there was still considerable variability in the overall perceived impact, suggesting that coping strategies might be particularly relevant.