July 31, 2017 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc MS Patients Often Suffer Depression, Other Symptoms Within First Year of Diagnosis, Study Finds Multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā patients in the first year of diagnosis frequently sufferĀ from depression, pre-morbid personality, self-perception issues and other psychological problems, an Italian study finds.Ā Yet it isĀ hard to predict the degree of symptoms since MS takes a different course in each individual. The study, āThe first year after…
July 20, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD MS Symptoms, Coupled with Poor Self-Esteem, Can Lead to Serious Depression, Study Says Fatigue, limited mobility, and poor self-esteem or resiliency were found to be associated with periods of serious depression among multiple sclerosis patients, according to a recent study. Previous research has suggested that MS patients are at risk of major depression, with potentially profound impact on their quality of life. But only a few studies have addressed the incidence of depression among MS patients or the risk factors that may underlie its occurrence. Researchers in Canada enrolled 188 MS patients being treated an Alberta clinic, who were interviewed to assess potential risk factors for depression: namely, socioeconomic status, disease-related factors, childhood risk factors, psychosocial factors, and health behaviors. Participants were also asked to complete the Patient Health Questionnaire every two weeks for six months to identify depressive symptoms in real-time. Over a six-month follow-up, 36 cases of depression were reported among the group of MS patients analyzed. The incidence of depression was 0.019 for women, but higher ā 0.044 ā for men. Importantly, several factors seemed to be associated with depression in these patients ā fatigue, limited mobility, and low resiliency, self-esteem, and self-efficacy, as well as poor coping skills. Results also showed that gender and income were associated with depression. Overall, the researchers concluded that "depression in MS exhibits a risk factor profile similar to that of depression in the general population, with the additional impact of MS illness-related factors. Potentially modifiable risk factors, such as coping with stress and resiliency, present opportunities for focus of further research in depression in MS treatment and prevention efforts." Concerning treatment, the team also emphasized that "while there is evidence in the clinical context that supports the efficacy for pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments for depression in the general population, there is currently insufficient evidence to support/or refute the efficacy of depression treatment for individuals with MS ... Clearly this is an area that requires additional research."
June 29, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Poor Caregiver Mental Health Might Shorten Lifespan of MS Patients Under Their Care The stress of caring for a family member with multiple sclerosis (MS) or another neurodegenerative disease may directly affect the quality of care, according to a study showing that poor caregiver mental health causesĀ higher mortality rates among the patients they care for. The study, published in the journal Proceedings…
June 19, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD National MS Society Highlights Diet, Lifestyle Research Focusing on Living Well With Multiple Sclerosis The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) SocietyĀ has selectedĀ research highlightsĀ from a recent MS conferenceĀ in an effort to help make living with the disease less burdensome. Presentations from the May 24-27Ā annual meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) in New Orleans ā which ranged fromĀ advice on smartphone apps to diet…
June 1, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD EMD Serono Launches MS Care Partner Survey with IACO to Honor May 31, World MS Day 2017 ToĀ honor World MS Day, May 31,Ā EMD SeronoĀ launched a multiple sclerosis care partner survey in collaboration with the International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO). The new survey comes after the initial results from aĀ MerckĀ studyĀ showed that the highest number of MS care partners are aged 18-34, and that…
May 30, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #CMSC17 – Physical Activity Halts Depression in Young MS Patients, Canadian Study Shows Young multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who engage in physical activity can relieveĀ symptoms of depression, concludes a Canadian study supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Researchers presented theirĀ study, āLongitudinal Relationships Between Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity, Fatigue, and Depression in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis,ā at theĀ 2017 Annual Meeting of the…
May 26, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD #CMSC17 – Feeling of Social Stigma Makes Depression in MS More Likely, Study Reports People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who feel stigmatized because of their condition are more likely to have depression, Ā research presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Annual MeetingĀ showed. TheĀ Pennsylvania State UniversityĀ research team said the impact of the stigma can be eased by lots of social support, a sense…
May 16, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc RRMS Patients on Beta-Interferon Therapy Have Increased Risk of Stroke, Study Finds A large-scale study revealed potential adverse reactions to beta-interferon (IFN-Ī²) therapy, one of the most common treatments used for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). According to the study published in the journal Neurology, patients have an increased risk of stroke, migraine, depression, and of developing abnormalities in the blood. In…
March 21, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Physician Assisted Suicide’s Appeal to MS Patients in Unbearable Pain Highlights Urgency in Treating Depression Half of the more than 7,500 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients responding to a recent survey revealed they’dĀ consider physician-assisted suicide if they could no longerĀ enjoy anything that made life worth living. In addition, 65 percent of respondents said they’d definitely or probably let a physician terminate their lives if they were…
January 17, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson Grief, Self-preservation and Multiple Sclerosis Grief can weaken our immune system, elevate our blood pressure, and affect our overall health. During a loss, especially one ofĀ the magnitude of a loved one, self-preservation is not always a top priority. For those of us with multiple sclerosis, the mental anguish that isĀ grief can exacerbate our already…
January 4, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Survey Assesses How Health Professionals Treat Other Health Conditions in MS Patients Healthcare providers frequently assess multiple sclerosis (MS) patients for the development of other health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, pain and sleep disturbance, according to results of a survey-study. The study also includes information about how health professionals treat and counsel MS patients diagnosed with these conditions. The study, ā…
November 16, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Sexual Dysfunction in MS Linked to Depression and Fatigue, Study Shows In a cross-sectional study, researchers found that sexual dysfunction in patients withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) is linked to fatigue and depression. Treating these factors and identifying their causes is a potential strategy to treat the problem. The study, āSexual function in multiple sclerosis and associations with demographic, disease…
November 15, 2016 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Surviving the Holiday Blues Requires Conscious Effort We are officially entering into the holiday season. Thanksgiving is almost here and Christmas will follow. The stores are filled with decorations. Holiday sales are advertised and children are excitedly preparing their Christmas lists. In addition, we will receive, and may even send the proverbial āHappy Holidaysā greeting cards.
October 31, 2016 Columns by Debi Wilson Avoiding the Black Hole of MS Depression The black hole ā that is the name I have given to my MS depression (yep, I name my depression. Doesn’t everyone?). It’s so easy to become depressed when you have MS. The disease is always on our minds. We are always thinking aboutĀ how to maneuver our daily life…
August 11, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Improving Confidence of RRMS Patients May Enhance Quality of Life, Decrease Depression, Study Finds Increasing a person’s confidence that they can complete tasks and reach goals in specific situations may benefit patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In a new study, researchers used an intensive three-day social cognitive treatment, called Can Do, to increaseĀ patients’ self-efficacy, which resulted in long lasting improvements in their health-related…
July 18, 2016 Columns by admin MS Patientās Pick of the Weekās News: Remyelination Drug Patent, Gut Microbiota, Statins, Cognition and Depression Quite a mixed bag in theĀ pick of the week’sĀ news: A drug in development, microbiota in the gut, statins and MS, DMTs and cognitive skills, and images of depression. Endece Granted New U.S. Patent for NDC-1308, Therapy to Induce Remyelination in MS This is a bit of an…
July 12, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD High Depression Rates in MS Patients Tied to Brain Inflammation in Recent Study Inflammation in a brain region called the hippocampus might explain why patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from depression far more often than patients with other chronic brain diseases. The findings, described in the report āHippocampal Neuroinflammation, Functional Connectivity, and Depressive Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis,āĀ published in the…
July 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Takes a Toll on Caregivers, Too, Especially on Their Mental Health Caregivers of peopleĀ with multiple sclerosis (MS) are often burdened by fatigue and depression, evenĀ anger,Ā all of which can unwittinglyĀ reduce the quality of care given ā although theyĀ remain quite empathetic, according to a study. The research team atĀ theĀ University of ManitobaĀ in Canada suggested that tending to the needs of people caring for…
June 22, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Fatigue That Troubles MS Patients Linked to Other Ills Stemming from the Disease Fatigue, the most commonly reported symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), is associated with diseaseĀ comorbidities such as depression, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, and anxiety, according to the study “Fatigue and Comorbidities in Multiple Sclerosis,” recently published in the International Journal of MS Care.
June 16, 2016 Columns by admin Alone with MS? Ā Are You? Really? Am I alone with MS? I do wonder that, sometimes; at those times of fatigue and frustration when the darkness envelopes you. When you pound the floor having fallen again; when you curse this monster inside you; and when you cry out āWhy me?ā But, of course, I am not…
June 8, 2016 Columns by admin MS is a lonely road. No kidding! Being lonely can be very difficult to define as it is not only the popularly assumed situation of being alone. You can be lonely in a room full of people if you donāt know anyone well enough to speak to them; conversely, you can be happy when alone, in your…
June 6, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD #CMSC16 – Assessing and Treating Psychiatric Disorders in MS Patients May Improve Prognosis, Quality of Life Assessing and treating psychiatric disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may improve their quality of life and diseaseĀ prognosis, according to researchers at Harvard Medical School, who presented their work titled “Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Multiple Sclerosis: Assessment and Management” at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)…
June 6, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc #CMSC16 – Researchers Present Findings Showing Women with MS Have Significant Depression, Fatigue, Decline in Cognitive Function Researchers at the University of Arizona studied the psychosocial symptoms felt by a group of female patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) from the southwestern United States, and found significant relationships between depression, fatigue, and cognitive decline — symptoms also related with poorer quality of life and reduced mental and…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #CMSC16 – MS Patients at Higher Risk for Loneliness, Study Shows Researchers who looked atĀ manifestations of lonelinessĀ found that the burden of loneliness is much higher in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients when compared to healthy people. The study, āLoneliness in Multiple Sclerosis: Putative Antecedents and Manifestations,ā was recently presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC)Ā June…
June 6, 2016 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD #CMSC16 – Sexual Dysfunction in Hispanic MS Patients Exists with Other Issues, Study Shows Sexual dysfunction correlates with depression and bladder dysfunction in Hispanic patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to the results of a recent study presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). The study, āSexual Dysfunction and Its Correlation to Depression and Bladder Dysfunction in…
May 13, 2016 News by Ćzge Ćzkaya, PhD Fatigue in MS Patients Can Cause Depression and Impair Life Quality, Regardless of Disability A new study suggests a strong association in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients between high levels of fatigue and mental health, quality of life (QoL), and the ability to move about and participate in daily activities, althoughĀ disability is not related to fatigue levels. Ā These findings are of importance and highlight the…
May 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Yoga and Aquatic Exercise Seen to Markedly Ease MS-related Depression and Fatigue Exercises like yoga and aquatic programsĀ can help ease some symptoms ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS),Ā especiallyĀ fatigue, depression and paresthesia, researchers report in a studyĀ published in the journalĀ Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, and titled āExercising Impacts on Fatigue, Depression, and Paresthesia in Female Patients with Multiple…
April 27, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Gut Bacteria Affects Myelin Content and Induces MS-Like Depression in Mice, Study Reports Researchers atĀ the Center of Excellence for Myelin Repair, a part of Mount Sinai, reportedĀ that gut bacteria produce compounds that were seen to affect theĀ myelinĀ content in mice and cause social avoidance behaviors. StudyĀ results indicated that targeting gut bacteria, or the gut metabolites, mightĀ help in treatingĀ neuropsychiatric disorders or complications, such as those…
March 15, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD People with MS, Especially Men, Likely to Have Other Chronic Health Conditions People newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to also suffer from other chronic health problems, particularly depression, according to a Canadian study, that also emphasizes the importance of investigating whether the safety of MS treatments differs for these patients. “These findings are interesting for several reasons,” the study’s author,…
January 8, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Patients and Caregivers Invited to Take Part in Meditation Study A new randomizedĀ andĀ controlled trial is recruiting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to investigate the effect of a mindfulness-based telemedicine intervention program on patients and their caregivers. The clinical study’sĀ protocol was recently published in the journal Trials,Ā titled “A telemedicine meditation intervention for people with multiple sclerosis…