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01-04-2014 | Original Article

Anxiety state affects information processing speed in patients with multiple sclerosis

Authors: Benedetta Goretti, R. G. Viterbo, E. Portaccio, C. Niccolai, B. Hakiki, E. Piscolla, P. Iaffaldano, M. Trojano, M. P. Amato

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 4/2014

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of anxiety on the cognitive performance of a clinical sample of relapsing—remitting (RR) MS patients. One hundred ninety patients (140 females) were included in the study and assessed through the beck depression inventory, the state-trait anxiety inventory and the Rao’s brief repeatable battery which assesses cognitive domains most frequently impaired in MS. As for neuropsychological performance, a total of 76 (40 %) subjects fulfilled our criterion for cognitive impairment. Tests most frequently failed by cognitive impairment (CI) patients were those assessing complex attention and information processing speed [Simbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Paced Auditory Serial Auditory Test (PASAT) 3 and 2] and verbal memory. In the univariate analysis, state anxiety was related to failure on the SDMT (p = 0.042), and marginally, to failure on the PASAT-3 (p = 0.068), and to the presence of CI (p = 0.082). Moderate/severe depression was detected in 38 (20 %) patients and fatigue in 109 (57 %). Higher depression scores were related to impairment on the ST (OR = 1.05; 95 % CI 1.01–1.10; p = 0.029).

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Title: Anxiety state affects information processing speed in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Benedetta Goretti
R. G. Viterbo
E. Portaccio
C. Niccolai
B. Hakiki
E. Piscolla
P. Iaffaldano
M. Trojano
M. P. Amato
Publication date: 01-04-2014
Publisher: Springer Milan
Published in: Neurological Sciences / Issue 4/2014
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-013-1544-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Anxiety state affects information processing speed in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Abstract

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