Clinical and demographic factors can influence psychological well-being of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).
To study possible differences in general mental health and its domains based on clinical and demographic patient characteristics
The sample was composed of 391 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. In order to find mental health differences related to clinical and demographic characteristics, the overall sample was divided into two groups according to MS duration since diagnosis (≤133 months vs ≥134 months), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score (≤3.5 EDSS vs ≥4 EDSS), MS type (progressive type vs relapsing-remitting), sex (male vs female) and age (≤44 years vs ≥45 years). General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was administered for measuring mental health. Differences mean scores between groups were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U Test, as data was not normally distributed.
Related to clinical variables the following significant differences were found. Shorter MS duration group (≤ 133 months) presented higher scores in: somatic symptoms (p=0.009), anxiety and insomnia subscales (p=0.007), and General GHQ-28 score (p=0.010). Somatic symptoms (p=0.013), anxiety and insomnia (p=0.045), severe depression (p<0.001), social dysfunction subscales (p<0.001), and General GHQ-28 score (p=0.001) were greater in the high MS severity group (≥ 4 EDSS level). Progressive MS type group showed higher mean score just in severe depression subscale (p=0.005). Related to demographic variables, higher mean scores were observed somatic symptoms subscale (p=0.001) and General GHQ-28 (p=0.046) in the female group, and any difference associated to age were statistically significant.
Short MS duration, high MS severity, progressive MS type, and being women are factors related to a diminished psychological well-being.