Co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, and hopelessness in patients with narcolepsy type 1

Objective

To assesses the prevalence and co-occurrence of anxiety, depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, and hopelessness in patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1).

Patients/Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 127 patients with NT1 (mean age 38.2 ± 15.5 years, 53.5 % female) and 131 controls (mean age 37.4 ± 14.3 years, 59.5 % female) matched for age, sex, and education, filled in the following validated questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). Comparisons between groups and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

Patients with NT1 presented significantly higher scores in BDI, suicidal thoughts (BDI-item-9), STAI-trait, STAI-state, and BHS than controls. Adjusted for age, sex, and educational level, NT1 was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (BDI≥13; OR 3.23, 95%CI 1.71–6.10), trait anxiety symptoms (STAI-trait≥38; OR 1.91, 95%CI 1.14–3.21), co-occurrence of BDI≥13 with STAI-trait≥38 (OR 2.72, 95%CI 1.47–5.05), and with STAI-state≥38 (OR 2.24, 95%CI 1.17–4.30), and moderate to severe hopelessness (BHS≥9; OR 2.95, 95%CI 1.55–5.63).

Conclusions

Patients with NT1 present a multidimensional psychiatric burden and comorbidity between symptoms of depression and anxiety and suicidal thoughts, a concern that deserves tailored interventions.