Evaluation of Depression and Anxiety of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison with the General Population

Abstract

Objective: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can increase anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). This study aimed to evaluate the predictors of anxiety and depression in PwMS during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare it with the general population (GP). Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in an MS clinic in Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. Data were collected online using a form including sociodemographics and questions on COVID-19-related knowledge and the hospital anxiety and depression scale. Results: This study included 800 participants (GP: 421, MS: 379). Anxiety (42.3% vs. 32.2%, p=0.002) and depression (53.9% vs. 39.6%, p<0.001) were more common, COVID-19-related knowledge was lower (9.1±1.5 vs. 9.9±1.2, p<0.001), and rate of COVID-19 infection was higher (15.4% vs. 6.9%, p<0.001) in the GP than PwMS. Among other factors, COVID-19-related knowledge was a common predictor of anxiety and depression in both GP and MS groups [odds ratio (OR): 0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-0.9, p=0.007 and OR: 0.7, 95% CI 0.7-0.9, p=0.020, for anxiety; OR: 0.7, 95% CI 0.7-0.9, p=0.001 and OR: 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-1.0, p=0.023 for depression, respectively]. Conclusion: This study revealed that PwMS have less anxiety and depression than the GP. Our study shows the importance of COVID-19-related knowledge and the need for psychological support during the pandemic.