The emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with progressive multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Objective Individuals with pre-existing chronic illness have shown increased anxiety and depression due to COVID-19. Here, we examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional symptomatology and quality of life in individuals with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PMS). Methods Data were obtained during a randomized clinical trial on rehabilitation taking place at 11 centers in North America and Europe. Participants included 131 individuals with PMS. Study procedures were interrupted in accordance with governmental restrictions as COVID-19 spread. During study closure, a COVID Impact Survey was administered via telephone or email to all participants, along with measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, quality of life, and MS symptomatology that were previously administered pre-pandemic. Results 4% of respondents reported COVID-19 infection. No significant changes were noted in anxiety, quality of life, or the impact of MS symptomatology on daily life from baseline to lockdown. While total HADS-depression scores increased significantly at follow-up, this did not translate into more participants scoring above the HADS threshold for clinically significant depression. No significant relationships were noted between disease duration, processing speed ability or EDSS, and changes in symptoms of depression or anxiety. Most participants reported the impact of the virus on their psychological well-being, with a little impact on financial well-being. The perceived impact of the pandemic on physical and psychological well-being was correlated with the impact of MS symptomatology on daily life, as well as changes in depression. Conclusions Overall, little change was noted in symptoms of depression or anxiety or overall quality of life.

COVID-19 and disease-modifying therapies in patients with demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system: A systematic review

“…However, a survey carried out among participants of a randomized clinical trial on rehabilitation in progressive MS patients did not confirm significant changes in neuropsychological assessments during the pandemic. ( Chiaravalloti et al, 2020 ) A multi-center study from North America and Europe demonstrated that despite most participants reporting some impact of the virus on their psychological well-being during the pandemic, little changed regarding symptoms of depression and anxiety, and overall quality of life on standardized measures remained mostly unchanged. ( Stojanov et al, 2020 ) Another study from Italy showed that the Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores did not change during pandemic among MS patients.…”

Distress and risk perception in people living with multiple sclerosis during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Three studies reassessed participants who had participated in trials prior to the pandemic to examine the extent to which distress changed over the studied interval. These studies produced mixed results, suggesting no or modest changes in anxiety or depression (Capuano et al, in press;Stojanov et al, 2020;Chiaravalloti et al, 2020). These studies had the advantage of pre-pandemic data to use as a baseline comparator, but were run on small samples (e.g., N = 67 (Capuano et al, in press)) with restricted characteristics (e.g., only relapsing-remitting MS (Stojanov et al, 2020) or only progressive MS (Chiaravalloti et al, 2020)) due to the inclusion criteria of the trials from which they were drawn.…”

“…These studies produced mixed results, suggesting no or modest changes in anxiety or depression (Capuano et al, in press;Stojanov et al, 2020;Chiaravalloti et al, 2020). These studies had the advantage of pre-pandemic data to use as a baseline comparator, but were run on small samples (e.g., N = 67 (Capuano et al, in press)) with restricted characteristics (e.g., only relapsing-remitting MS (Stojanov et al, 2020) or only progressive MS (Chiaravalloti et al, 2020)) due to the inclusion criteria of the trials from which they were drawn. In addition to those distress-focused studies, a large survey study on the healthcare impact of COVID-19 for people living with MS noted that "[p]articipants believed COVID-19 presents a major danger to their health and reported being generally highly worried about the disease" (Vogel et al, 2020).…”

“If You Can’t Control the Wind, Adjust Your Sail”: Tips for Post-Pandemic Benefit Finding from Young Adults Living with Multiple Sclerosis. A Qualitative Study

“…The psychological impact of COVID-19 in terms of stress, negative emotional reactions (e.g., anxiety, depression), and traumatic responses has been extensively studied in the general population [ 39 ] and to a lower extent also in vulnerable populations, such as chronically ill patients, including patients with MS [ 15 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Moreover, young adults are particularly vulnerable and at greater risk of developing adverse psychological symptoms during the pandemic, as demonstrated in a study by Forte and colleagues [ 40 ] that focused on people under the age of 50.…”