The relationship between stress, anxiety, and depression levels and pseudobulbar affect in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) has recently been added to the list of mental disorders commonly observed in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The emotional changes experienced by MS patients may be associated with other mental problems and adversely affect disease prognosis. However, there are limited studies in the international and national literature on this subject.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between PBA and stress, anxiety, and depression levels in patients with MS.

Design: This is a descriptive, relational, and cross-sectional study.

Methods: A total of 442 MS patients followed in the neurology outpatient clinic of a hospital and registered with the MS Society in Turkey participated in this study. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Turkish version of the Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale (CNS-LS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS).

Results: In this study, 63.3% of the patients had PBA, 21% had extremely severe depression, 41.6% had extremely severe anxiety, and 24.9% had severe stress. Correlation analysis revealed weak positive correlations between CNS-LS total score and DASS subscale and total scores. Depression, anxiety, and stress levels accounted for 22.5% of the variation in CNS-LS total score.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that a majority of MS patients in Turkey experience PBA, depression, anxiety, and stress, and that PBA is positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress.

Impact statement: This study, indicates that should be increased consultation-liaison psychiatry services in Turkey, and MS patients should benefit from comprehensive psychiatric services.