Beyond depression: Predictors of self-reported cognitive function in adults living with MS.

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association between self-reported cognition and demographic/psychosocial variables in individuals with a self-reported diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Design Secondary longitudinal analysis of mailed self-report surveys over a period of 2 years. Setting Community. Participants 407 community-dwelling individuals from the Pacific Northwest with a self-reported diagnosis of MS. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Subjective general cognitive concerns and subjective executive difficulties as measured by the Neuro-QOL Applied Cognition–Executive Function–Short Form (SF) and the Applied Cognition–General Concerns–SF. Results Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify statistically significant longitudinal predictors of perceived cognitive difficulties 2 years later. Fatigue and anxiety were statistically significant predictors of general cognitive concerns. Fatigue and perceived stress were statistically significant predictors of perceived executive difficulties. Fatigue was the strongest predictor in both models. Conclusions In MS, perceived cognitive impairment is frequently linked to depression without consideration of other possible contributors. This study suggests that in people with MS, fatigue is a stronger predictor of self-reported cognitive function two years later than depression

Anxiety in multiple sclerosis is related to depressive symptoms and cognitive complaints

“…47 The significant relation between cognitive complaints and anxiety in MS patients is also in line with earlier findings and might be part of the above relation between anxiety and depression. 48 However, whether cognitive complaints contribute to anxiety or the other way around cannot be answered on the basis of our cross-sectional data. 25,35 Moreover, in a longitudinal study, 48 the authors showed that anxiety and fatigue were significant predictors of general cognitive concerns during a 2-year follow-up.…”

“…Anxiety, along with depression and mental fatigue, accounts for a substantial part of the total variance of cognitive complaints in MS patients. 25,35 Moreover, in a longitudinal study, 48 the authors showed that anxiety and fatigue were significant predictors of general cognitive concerns during a 2-year follow-up. 48 However, whether cognitive complaints contribute to anxiety or the other way around cannot be answered on the basis of our cross-sectional data.…”

The Rationale for Monitoring Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis: Practical Issues for Clinicians

“…Hence, in routine daily practice, depression and fatigue should also be assessed as per usual clinical care. Similarly, self-reported questionnaires about cognition in MS, might be useful in clinical studies but may not provide enough information about the cognitive domains affected to the examiner [ 59 ]. For example, the patient reported Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ-P) score may correlate with depression and anxiety but not with scores of cognitive tests [ 60 , 61 ].…”

Hippocampal MicroRNAs Respond to Administration of Antidepressant Fluoxetine in Adult Mice

“…Depression is a major mood disorder characterized by chronic low mood, disturbance of sleep and appetite, as well as feelings of inferiority, despair, and suicide [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Recent studies on the mechanisms of depression are mainly concentrated on the genetic, neural and biochemical factors, neuroendocrine function, electroencephalogram (EEG) dynamics, neuroimaging and psychosocial problems [ 4 ].…”