Validation study of prevalence and correlates of depressive symptomatology in multiple sclerosis.
July 3rd, 2008 | by admin |Validation study of prevalence and correlates of depressive symptomatology in multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE: To validate previous research findings on the prevalence of and factors associated with depressive symptoms in a community-dwelling sample of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHOD: A cross-sectional survey study of 530 individuals with MS from Eastern Washington (EW) was conducted and compared to a previous cross-sectional survey study of 738 individuals with MS from Western Washington (WW). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and multivariate logistic regression was employed to detect related factors. RESULTS: Prevalence of depressive symptoms was similar in both populations (EW 51%, WW 45%). Factors associated with a clinically significant level of depressive symptoms (CES-D >/=16) in both groups were greater disease severity, shorter disease duration, lower education and less social support (all P<.01). Lower age was also associated with a significant level of depressive symptoms in the WW but not in the EW sample. CONCLUSIONS: Despite differences in disease-related and demographic factors, predictors of depressive symptoms were highly similar in both MS study populations.
Bamer AM, Cetin K, Johnson KL, Gibbons LE, Ehde DM.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Multiple Sclerosis, University of Washington, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.