Magnitude and concurrence of anxiety and depression among attendees at tertiary care neurology unit in Oman with multiple sclerosis (MS)

Abstract

Background: Anxiety and depression are commonly reported by persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) but no data, to our knowledge, have emerged from Arab Islamic population. Objective: The study aims to investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among PwMS attending tertiary care hospital in Oman, Neurology Clinic, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH). The characteristics such as socio-demographic and clinical variables were also explored. Methods: Consecutive and consenting PwMS were subjected to the following measures. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to measure anxiety (cut-point > 7) and depression (>7). Results: 54 patients with MS participated in our study and approximately 87% were on Interferon. The age range from 17 to 50 and the average age was 31.4 ± 8.84. In terms of gender, majority were female (males=30% vs. 70% females). Approximately 50% of the attendees have acquired university or higher graduate education while 39% had completed secondary education. The rest acquired on the lower strata of education with one illiterate. The majority (69%) of attendees were married while 31% were single. Approximately 83% were employed, students or job-seekers. The majority of the patients had <4 in the EDSS. Prevalence of anxiety was 53%, depression 39% on HADS. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression are common in PwMS among the attendees of tertiary care in Oman. Such psychosocial variables have been largely unreported from non-western population. As these variables are strong indicators of burden of MS, concerted efforts are needed to address such psychosocial dysfunctions in the algorithms of care for PwMS.