DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2024.v10i06.003

Pages: 496-499

This study investigates the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic neurological disease. The research highlights the high frequency of psychiatric comorbidities, particularly depression and anxiety, which are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. The study included 120 patients with definite MS and found that 30% of them had major depressive disorder, 45% had anxiety disorders, and 25% had generalized anxiety disorder. The prevalence of bipolar disorder was 1.66%, and substance abuse was also identified as a significant issue. The work emphasizes the importance of clinical attention to psychiatric comorbidity in MS patients, as it is associated with an increased risk of suicide. The results suggest that anxiety is a powerful predictive factor for depression, and that behavioral disorders are more common than severe psychiatric disorders, likely due to cognitive impairment. We conclude that psychiatric comorbidities are common in MS and that their appropriate management is crucial to improve quality of life and prevent suicide.