Multiple Sclerosis and Other Demyelinating Disorders

Mental health problems are common in multiple sclerosis (MS). Clinically diagnosable depression occurs in about 50% of patients over their lifetimes, compared with only about 8% for the general population. Anxiety has been less well-studied, but it has also been found to be very common, with most studies suggesting that about 35% of patients experience clinically significant anxiety at any given time. In this article, we review factors that may contribute to anxiety and depression in MS. We also discuss some treatment research and provide guidelines for future investigations that may explore these mental health problems in MS.