Depression and quality of life in multiple sclerosis

Objectives Health related quality of life (QoL) has gained increasing influ ence as a relevant evaluation criterion in multiple sclerosis. The high pre valence of psychiatric comorbidity in MS is, however, hardly ever considere d in studies concerning QoL. Materials and methods - In 60 patients of a MS outpatient clinic, symptoms of anxiety (Zung Anxiety Scale) and depression (Zung Depression Scale), as well as the health-related quality of life wer e rated and set into relation to the EDSS and to the duration of illness, r espectively. Results - There was a highly significant correlation between d epression as well as anxiety and the self-assessed quality of life. Depress ion was the by far strongest predictor for reduced QoL. Conclusion - Clinic al studies, which seek to register the increasingly important evaluation cr iterion of health-related quality of life in MS, should consider the preval ence of depressive disorders and the decisive effect of depression on the s elf-assessed quality of life of affected patients.