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The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional multi-centered study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

A. Alserihi*
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, king Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
A. Alswat
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, king Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
B. Altirkistani
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, king Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
O. Baeshen
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, king Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
E. Alrushid
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, king Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
J. Alkhudair
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, king Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
O. Wadaan
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, king Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
A. Aldbas
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh
A. Alsaleh
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Y. Al Malik
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh
A. Abulaban
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh
S. Makkawi
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is considered one of the leading causes of neurological non-traumatic disability among young people. Given the chronic progressive nature of the disease, psychiatric disorders are more prevalent among those patients as reported in the literature; however, the data in Saudi Arabia is lacking.

Objectives

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among MS patient in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional multi-centered study, including patients with multiple sclerosis. Participants were interviewed and asked to fill a validated survey that consisted of demographics, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were performed, and the analysis were made using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and ANOVA tests as appropriate.

Results

A total of 192 participants were included in the study. Based on a cutoff score of > 10 in the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales, the prevalence of anxiety was 26.1% (n-50), with majority of the participants having minimal anxiety (40%); meanwhile, the prevalence of depression was 42.7% (n=82), and most of them had mild depression (30%). [table 1, image 1 and 2] Females participants significantly scored higher in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 compared to males (p-value= 0.0376 and 0.1134, respectively). [table 2 and 3] In addition, no significant association was detected between functional disability (EDSS score) and the prevalence of anxiety and depression.table 1

Items
GAD 7 score, Mean (SD)6.5 (±4.9)
GAD 7, N (%)
Fit for Anxiety (>10) *50 (26%)
Not Fit for Anxiety (<10) *142 (74%)
PHQ 9 score, Mean (SD)8.8 (±6.1)
PHQ 9, N (%)
Fit for Depression (>10) *82 (42.7%)
Not Fit for Depression (<10) *110 (57.3%)
table 2
Fit for Anxiety (n=50)Not Fit for Anxiety (n=142)P Value
Gender, N (%)
- Male10 (20%)51 (35.9%)0.0376
- Female40 (80%)91 (64.1%)
table 3
N(%)Fit for Depression (n=82)Not Fit for Depression (n=110)P Value
Gender, N (%)
- Male21 (25.6%)40 (36.4%)0.1134
- Female61 (74.4%)70 (63.6%)

Image:

Image 2:

Conclusions

This study reported high level of anxiety and depression among MS patients, with females being more affected. Since these co-morbid disorders could affect the disease course negatively, screening is of paramount significance.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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