Long-term emotional state of multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta

Objective: To assess the long-term emotional state of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with interferon beta (IFNβ) for at least four years.

Methods: Patients who had started IFNβ therapy prior to 2000 with a baseline psychological assessment were identified and scheduled for long-term emotional assessment with the following questionnaires-the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

Results: A total of 262 patients started IFNβ therapy in our MS clinic within the period 1995-1999. Baseline emotional assessment was available from 246 MS patients. Long-term assessment was conducted on 234 patients. After a mean follow-up of 65 months (43-98), 52 patients (22.3%) had withdrawn from IFNβ therapy. The comparisons, obtained from baseline and follow-up scores, showed an improvement in the depressive and anxiety symptoms of patients who adhered to IFNβ treatment. Logistic regression analysis indicated that an increase in physical disability and the presence of depressive symptoms at baseline were best predictors for long-term depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: The present results support the absence of emotional worsening in MS patients treated with IFNβ for a long period of time. Increased disability and the presence of baseline depressive symptoms predicted the presence of depressive symptoms at follow-up.