Depressive disorder in patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of neurodegenerative features. It is characterized as a chronic disorder that can occur with comorbid psychiatric diseases, mainly depression. We present in this manuscript aims to evaluate the frequency of depressive disorder in a population of patients with multiple sclerosis in Brazil and to characterize sociodemographic and clinical aspects. It is an exploratory, cross-sectional and quantitative study. The study included 73 patients with multiple sclerosis who are assisted by a public outpatient neurology service at a university hospital in Brazil. It was identified that the presence of depressive disorder is correlated with lower educational levels and with work incapacity (Pearson's linear correlation test, p = 0.041, p = 0.009). Significant correlation was identified for PHQ-9 positive and female sex (Spearman's linear correlation test, p = 0.028). The clinical variables of the study were submitted to a correlation analysis with the values of PHQ-9 and the presence of depressive disorder, being the number of physical limitations secondary to multiple sclerosis. The variables that presented significant correlations were the presence of deficiencies in locomotion, physical activity practice, the presence of comorbidities and the number of comorbidities present. From the results obtained, this study concluded that the frequency of depressive disorder was high in the multiple sclerosis population evaluated. Awareness of the importance of adequate diagnostic investigation and effective treatment of comorbid psychiatric disorders should be part of the guideline of health professionals involved in the care of patients with multiple sclerosis.