MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - CORRELATION OF ANXIETY, PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT AND COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION

The aim of the study was to examine the correlation between anxiety an d physical impairment and to discover whether anxiety correlated with specific forms of cognitive dysfunction. Ninetyfour patients (42 femal es, 52 males) with definite MS entered the study. Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, physical impairment by means of the Kurtzke Disability Status scale, and cognitive impairment by u sing the Trail Making, Symbol Digit Modalities, Auditory Verbal Learni ng, Story Recall and the Recurring Figures tests. Moderately handicapp ed patients (DSS 4-5) showed signs of anxiety, and physical impairment correlated with anxiety (p < 0.05; df. 1.92). Trail Making also corre lated with anxiety (p < 0.01; df. 1.86). On the basis of the results o f this and previous studies, it is concluded that anxiety can be a sig n of cognitive dysfunction, physical impairment or social strain.