Background: Despite the common association of psychiatric morbidity and multiple sclerosis (MS), population-based prevalence estimates of these disorders are limited. Such estimates are of particular importance to those conducting trials of interventions for the treatment of MS. This study examined the prevalence of bipolar disorder, depression, and attempted suicide among hospital service utilizers in Nova Scotia and compared these measures for the MS and non-MS population. Methods: Data regarding diagnosis and utilization were extracted from two linked databases which included all hospital separation records for Nova Scotia over a 3 year period (1992/93-1994/95). Results: The prevalence of bipolar disorder in hospitalized MS patients was 1.97% and depression was 4.27%. These rates were significantly higher than the 0.92% and 2.04%, respectively, for the non-MS hospital utilizers. These diagnoses also accounted for more than half of the primary diagnostic codes for psychiatric service separations by MS patients. The proportion of total hospital utilization which was accounted for by psychiatric services did not differ between MS and non-MS utilizers. While suicide attempts were rare, the estimated frequency of suicide attempts in the total MS population was more than three times that of the general population. Conclusions: Bipolar disorder and depression were twice as prevalent in hospitalized MS patients as in the general population of hospital utilizers while the estimated frequency of suicide attempts was at least three times greater. These results illustrate that psychiatric morbidity and service utilization are important considerations in the care of MS patients. RESUME: Utilisation des services psychiatriques hospitaliers et morbidite dans la sclerose en plaques. Introduction: En depit de l'association frequente de la morbidite psychiatrique et de la sclerose en plaques (SEP), il existe peu d'etudes evaluant la prevalence de ces affections dans la population. Ces donnees sont particulierement importantes pour ceux qui font des etudes d'intervention pour le traitement de la SEP Cette etude a examine' la prevalence de la maladie bipolaire, de la depression et des tentatives de suicide parmi les utilisateurs de services hospitaliers en Nouvelle-Ecosse et compart; ces donnees pour la SEP a celles de la population non atteinte de SEP. Methodes: Les donnees concernant le diagnostic et I'utilisation de soins ont 6te extraites de deux bases de donnees qui incluaient tous les dossiers concernant les conges hospitaliers pour la Nouvelle-Ecosse sur une periode de 3 ans (1992/93 -1994/95). Resultats: La prevalence de la maladie bipolaire chez les patients atteints de SEP hospitalises etait de 1.97% et celles de la depression de 4.27%. Ces taux etaient significativement plus eleves que les taux de 0.92% et 2.04% respectivement pour les utilisateurs hospitaliers n'6tant pas atteints de SEP. Ces diagnostics constituaient plus de la moiti£ des codes diagnostiques primaires pour les conges psychiatriques chez le...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.