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Patient Page |
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 Top. Patient Page About Multiple Sclerosis |
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Depression often complicates multiple sclerosis (MS). Estimates vary, but 50 to 60% of MS patients develop some degree of depression and, like depression in general, it responds to treatment. While MS is often disabling, it rarely causes death. One cause of premature death among MS patients is suicide, which occurs more frequently in these patients than in the general population. You can learn more about depression and MS on the next page.
In this issue of Neurology, two articles (Feinstein A. An examination of suicidal intent in patients with multiple sclerosis. Neurology 2002;59:674–678; and Patten SH, Metz LM. Interferon ß-1a and depression in secondary progressive MS: Data from the SPECTRIMS Trial. Neurology2002;59:744–746 ) shed new light on the problems of depression and suicide in MS. An editorial (Caine ED, Schwid SR. Multiple sclerosis, depression, and the risk of suicide. Neurology 2002;59:662–663) also appears in this month’s Neurology.
Feinstein studied 140 patients attending an MS clinic in Toronto, Canada. He found that 40 (29%) patients had thought about committing suicide and nine had attempted suicide. Among the entire group of 140 patients, about one-third had a history of major depression at some time. In comparing the 40 patients who had a history of suicidal intent with the 100 who did not, Feinstein discovered that there were no differences between the two groups in age, sex, duration or type of MS, physical disability, or cognitive impairment. However, the group with a history of suicidal intent were much more likely to have problems with depression. About one-third of the suicidal group had evidence of significant depression at the time of study, compared with only 2% in the nonsuicidal group. In addition, 83% of the suicidal group had a history of major depression at some time in their lives compared with only 18% of the nonsuicidal group.
There were several factors that seemed to predict suicidal intent, including having a history of living alone, a family history of mental illness, significant depression or anxiety at the time of testing, significant psychosocial stress, and a diagnosis at any time of major depression, anxiety disorder, or alcohol abuse. The three most important factors were living alone, severe depression, and history of alcohol abuse.
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This is important because severe depression among MS patients often goes untreated. About one-third of MS patients that experience major depression or have suicidal thoughts never receive treatment for depression. MS patients with depression respond to treatment with antidepressants and psychotherapy. Depression is therefore a treatable cause of suffering among MS patients. Because it increases the risk of suicide, appropriate treatment can decrease the risk of MS patients committing suicide. It is very important for physicians to recognize and treat depression among their MS patients. Patients and family members also should report depressive symptoms to their physicians to aid in appropriate treatment.
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About Multiple Sclerosis |
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Top.Patient PageAbout Multiple Sclerosis |
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MS involves inflammation within the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), followed by the loss of the protective myelin sheaths that surround nerve fibers. When the myelin is damaged, nerve impulses are not quickly and efficiently transmitted. Besides damage to the myelin sheaths, it is now recognized that the nerve fibers, called axons, also are damaged in MS to varying extent. Lesions (called plaques) develop in the brain and spinal cord and can cause the symptoms of MS listed below.
What Are the Symptoms? There are several types of MS. Most people with MS begin with relapsing-remitting disease. This means that the symptoms come and go, often leaving the person feeling nearly normal until another relapse, or MS attack, occurs. Symptoms associated with relapses usually develop over a period of days. The problems can last for a matter of days or weeks and then go away, sometimes even without any treatment. New attacks occur at irregular intervals, usually one attack every 1 to 2 years.
Common symptoms include:
About 50% of patients with relapsing-remitting MS develop a progressive form of MS, called secondary progressive MS, in which there is continual worsening. In this phase of the disease, patients may continue to have relapses or may stop having them altogether. About 15% of patients have progressive worsening from the beginning of their MS and do not experience relapses of MS. This form of MS is called primary progressive MS.
How Is MS Diagnosed? The diagnosis of MS is based on a history of multiple attacks over time of neurologic lesions that affect different parts of the central nervous system. Your neurologist will order tests that will help confirm the diagnosis. Usually a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain (and possibly the spinal cord) is ordered to find evidence of abnormal areas. Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is also helpful to detect specific problems with the cerebrospinal fluid.
What Causes Multiple Sclerosis? The cause of MS is unknown. There is strong evidence that MS is immune mediated. This means that the person’s own immune system attacks the central nervous system (an autoimmune disease).
What Are the Treatments? Currently, there is no prevention or cure for MS. However, this is a promising time for people with MS, as several new medications that affect the underlying disease process have been approved or are awaiting approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You should ask your neurologist about the best treatment options for you. Current treatments are divided into three categories:
Medications that treat the symptoms of MS.These include medications to treat depression, decrease muscle stiffness, reduce fatigue, control bladder symptoms, reduce pain, and address sexual dysfunction.
Medications that modify attacks when they occur.These are primarily corticosteroids (a synthesized adrenal hormone) that can shorten an attack.
Medications that modify disease activity.These are taken on a regular basis to help reduce the frequency of attacks and the long-term damage to brain caused by MS. Disease-modifying therapies currently FDA-approved for treating MS include recombinant ß-interferons (Avonex, Betaseron, and Rebif), glatiramer acetate (Copaxone), and an immunosuppressant/chemotherapy drug, mitoxantrone (Novantrone).
For More Information:
Related articles in Neurology:
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