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BMC Neurology
Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Magnitude and concurrence of anxiety and depression among attendees with multiple sclerosis at a tertiary care Hospital in Oman

Authors: Abdullah Al-Asmi, Salim Al-Rawahi, Zahir Saif Al-Moqbali, Yahya Al-Farsi, Musthafa M. Essa, May El-Bouri, Roopa P. Koshy, Arunodaya R. Gujjar, PC Jacob, Abeer Al-Hodar, Samir Al Adawi

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Anxiety, depression and functional impairments are commonly reported by persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) but no data, to our knowledge, has emerged from an Arab Islamic population. The study aims to investigate the prevalence of anxiety, depression and related disabilities among PwMS attending tertiary care in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), one of the urban hospitals in Oman.

Methods

Consecutive and consenting PwMS (n = 57) and healthy subjects (n = 53) completed the following measures: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) which was used to measure anxiety (cut-point >7) and depression (>7); and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) to measure the level of disability (≥5). Characteristics such as socio-demographic and clinical variables were also explored.

Results

Fifty seven subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS) met the inclusion criteria. The majority of them were females who were 40 years old or younger and the majority were employed and unmarried. Approximately 86 % of the participants were using beta interferon, 96 % scored ≥5 in EDSS. MS of the Relapsing-Remitting type constituted the majority of the cohort (94 %). Approximately 35 % and 51 % endorsed symptoms of anxiety and depression respectively. The MS group scored significantly higher than controls on HADS measurements of depression and anxiety.

Conclusion

Disability and symptoms of anxiety and depression are common among the PwMS attendees of tertiary care hospital in Oman. Such psychosocial variables have been largely unreported emerging from non-western populations. As these variables are strong indicators of the burden of MS, resolute effort is needed to address such psychosocial dysfunctions in the algorithms of care for PwMS in the Arab Islamic part of the world.
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Metadata
Title
Magnitude and concurrence of anxiety and depression among attendees with multiple sclerosis at a tertiary care Hospital in Oman
Authors
Abdullah Al-Asmi
Salim Al-Rawahi
Zahir Saif Al-Moqbali
Yahya Al-Farsi
Musthafa M. Essa
May El-Bouri
Roopa P. Koshy
Arunodaya R. Gujjar
PC Jacob
Abeer Al-Hodar
Samir Al Adawi
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-015-0370-9

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