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Multicenter Study
. 2016 Sep 15;11(9):e0160261.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160261. eCollection 2016.

Depressive Symptoms Correlate with Disability and Disease Course in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: An Italian Multi-Center Study Using the Beck Depression Inventory

C Solaro  1 , E Trabucco  1   2 , A Signori  3 , V Martinelli  4 , M Radaelli  4 , D Centonze  5   6 , S Rossi  5   6 , M G Grasso  7 , A Clemenzi  7 , S Bonavita  8 , A D'Ambrosio  8 , F Patti  9 , E D'Amico  9 , G Cruccu  10 , A Truini  10
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Depressive Symptoms Correlate with Disability and Disease Course in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: An Italian Multi-Center Study Using the Beck Depression Inventory

C Solaro et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Depression occurs in about 50% of patients with multiple sclerosis. The aims of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a multicenter MS population using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II) and to identify possible correlations between the BDI II score and demographic and clinical variables.

Methods: Data were collected in a multi-center, cross-sectional study over a period of six months in six MS centers in Italy using BDI II.

Results: 1,011 MS patients participated in the study. 676 subjects were female, with a mean age of 34 years (SD 10.8), mean EDSS of 3.3 (0-8.5) and mean disease duration of 10.3 years (range 1-50 years). 668 (%) subjects scored lower than 14 on the BDI II and 343 (33.9%) scored greater than 14 (14 cut-off score). For patients with BDI>14 multivariate analysis showed a significant difference between EDSS and disease course. BDI II scores for subjects with secondary progressive (SP) MS were significantly different from primary progressive (PP) patients (p < 0.001) but similar to relapsing-remitting (RR) patients. Considering subjects with moderate to severe depressive symptoms (BDI II score from 20-63), in relation to disease course, 11.7% (83/710) had RR MS, 40.7% (96/236) SP and 13.6% (6/44) PP.

Conclusions: Using the BDI II, 30% of the current sample had depressive symptoms. BDI II score correlates with disability and disease course, particularly in subjects with SP MS. The BDI II scale can be a useful tool in clinical practice to screen depressive symptoms in people with MS.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Solaro served as advisory board the following companies: Biogen Idec, Merck Serono. He received speaking honoraria from Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Almirall, Teva, Genzyme. He received research grants and support by the FISM (Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla). Dr. Centonze acted as an Advisory Board member of, and received funding for traveling and honoraria for speaking or consultation fees from Merck-Serono, Teva, Genzyme, Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, Novartis, Almirall, GW Pharmaceuticals. He is the principal investigator in clinical trials for Novartis, Merck Serono, Teva, Bayer Schering, Sanofi-aventis, Biogen Idec, Roche. Dr. Bonavita received honoraria for advisory board and speaking activities from Biogen-Idec, Merck Serono and Novartis. Dr. Patti received honoraria for advisory board and speaking activities from Almirall, Bayer, Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi Genzyme and TEVA; he also received research grants from FISM and MIUR. Dr. Cruccu received honoraria for advisory board and speaking activities from Astellas, Convergence, Eli Lilly e Pfizer. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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