The COVID-19 Pandemic Experience in Multiple Sclerosis: The Good, the Bad and the Neutral

Abstract

Introduction While the current COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many, there is a paucity of information on the impact on people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study sought to gain insight into the impact of the current situation on people with MS and the factors that influence this. Methods 324 MS patients participated in this online cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 lockdown period. A mixed methods design was used, with quantitative information collected on MS-related factors as well as COVID-19 impact and an open-ended, qualitative response looking for reasons behind the self-reported COVID-19 impact. Results We found that 48% of the participants reported that COVID-19 had a neutral impact on their lives and 16% reported a positive impact. However, 36% reported a negative impact, and had greater levels of MS- and non-MS-related worries, and higher levels of bother related to psychological and cognitive symptoms and fatigue than the groups reporting a neutral or positive impact. Significant predictors of this adversely affected group were age, type of MS and presence of psychological symptoms. Antidepressant medication use, time since diagnosis, gender, location, living arrangements or employment status did not predict impact. Open-ended responses explaining personal COVID-19 impact indicate that coping strategies may contribute to these findings. In particular, active, problem-focused approaches were reported by the majority of people who reported a positive impact, as well as a third of those who reported a neutral impact. Conclusion These findings suggest that younger people, those with progressive types of MS, and those with psychological symptoms are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of a COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown. Coping strategies provide further insight into these findings with those reporting active problem-focused approaches seemingly faring better than those who do not state any coping strategies. These results also have implications for understanding other like neurological conditions that share many similarities with MS and how best to direct support.

Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with depression, anxiety, and general mental health in people with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…It is hypothesized that this may be due to the higher prevalence of mental illness prior to the pandemic among young adults and/or consequences of COVID-19 such as unemployment, the closure of post-secondary educational institutions, and increased social isolation. Our results are in line with other research finding that younger PwMS have been more adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic ( Morris-Bankole and Ho, 2021 ; Talaat et al., 2020 ).…”

Surviving a global pandemic: The experience of depression, anxiety, and loneliness among individuals with multiple sclerosis

“…Given the vulnerability to depression and anxiety in this population and the effects of social isolation or loneliness, it was anticipated that we would observe relative increases in depression and anxiety during this time, consistent with other cross-sectional studies that have been published recently. ( Morris-Bankole and Ho, 2021 , Motolese et al, 2020 , Donisi et al, 2021 , Costabile et al, 2021 , Uhr et al, 2021 , Alirezaei et al, 2021 ) When examining the overall rates of depression and anxiety prior to and during the pandemic, we indeed found an increase in the rate of depression from 13% to 29% and an increase in the rate of anxiety from 28% to 47%. Closer examination of the trajectories of depression and anxiety over time, as seen in Table 2 , suggests a combination of both consistency and novelty in mental health symptoms from pre-pandemic status.…”

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus before and after COVID-19 Lockdown: How the Perception of Disease Changes through the Lenses of Narrative Medicine

“…The analysis conducted by Forner and colleagues underlined that delays in surgery for cancer patients due to the pandemic resulted in extensive psychosocial distress, and found that patients could mitigate these effects through various coping mechanisms and improved communication with their healthcare teams [15]. Furthermore, the COVID-19 lockdown significantly and negatively impacted younger people with multiple sclerosis (MS), in particular in those with progressive types of MS and psychological symptoms [16]. Nonetheless, as reported by Gleason and colleagues, COVID-19 has disrupted health systems and social services, leading to unprecedented barriers to access and maintain health and addiction services in both inpatient and outpatient settings [17].…”