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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2020; 78(09): 570-575
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20200122
Original Article

Neuropsychiatric changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in multiple sclerosis patients

Alterações neuropsiquiátricas durante a pandemia de COVID-19 em pacientes com esclerose múltipla
Caner Feyzi DEMIR 
1   Fırat University, Medical School, Neurology Department, Elazığ, Turkey.
,
Furkan BILEK 
2   Fırat University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Elazığ, Turkey.
,
Ferhat BALGETIR 
1   Fırat University, Medical School, Neurology Department, Elazığ, Turkey.
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ABSTRACT

Background: This study reported on a variety of psychological reactions related to anxiety, sleep quality, depression, fatigue, and quality of life in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), related to the Covid-19 quarantine experience. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the neuropsychiatric effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in MS patients and to analyze the risk factors contributing to psychological stress. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective, cross-sectional survey study. Multiple assessment tools that are used in neurological practice, including Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) were administered prospectively both during the early and the peak stages of COVID-19 outbreak (ESO and PSO, respectively). The survey forms were designed using SurveyMonkey and the participants were participating in the survey via a web link and QR code. Results: Fifty patients were included in the study. BDI scores, PSQI and FSI measurements, cognitive and social subscale scores and total FIS score, MSQOL-54 measurements, physical and mental subscale scores, and total MSQOL-54 score at PSO were significantly different than those at ESO. The body mass index values of the patients increased significantly at PSO compared to those measured at ESO. Conclusions: The results provide a basis for the development of psychological interventions that could minimize the prevalence of sleep disorders and depression and could improve patients’ quality of life during the outbreak.

RESUMO

Introdução: Este estudo relatou uma variedade de reações psicológicas relacionadas a ansiedade, qualidade do sono, depressão, fadiga e qualidade de vida em indivíduos com esclerose múltipla (EM), relacionadas à experiência de quarentena de COVID-19. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos neuropsiquiátricos da pandemia de Covid-19 em pacientes com EM e analisar os fatores de risco que contribuem para o estresse psicológico. Métodos: O estudo foi desenhado como um estudo prospectivo e transversal. Várias ferramentas de avaliação usadas na prática neurológica, incluindo Inventário de Depressão de Beck (Beck Depression Inventory - BDI), Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck (Beck Anxiety Inventory - BAI), Escala de Impacto de Fadiga (Fatigue Impact Scale - FIS), Índice de Qualidade de Sono de Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI) e Qualidade de Vida da Esclerose Múltipla-54 (Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 - MSQOL-54) foram administrados prospectivamente durante o estágio inicial do surto de COVID-19 (EIS) e o estágio de pico do surto de COVID-19 (EPS). Os formulários da pesquisa foram projetados usando o SurveyMonkey e os participantes participaram da pesquisa por meio de um link da web e código QR. Resultados: Foram incluídos 50 pacientes no estudo. Os escores BDI, PSQI, FSI, subescala cognitiva e social e escore total do FIS, MSQOL-54, subescala física e mental e MSQOL-54 total no PSO foram significativamente diferentes dos do EIS. Os valores do índice de massa corporal dos pacientes aumentaram significativamente na EPS em comparação com os medidos na EIS. Conclusões: Nossos resultados são uma base para o desenvolvimento de intervenções psicológicas que podem minimizar a prevalência de distúrbios do sono e depressão e melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes durante o surto.

Keywords:

Coronavirus Infections - Pandemics - Social Isolation - Multiple Sclerosis

Palavras-chave:

Infecções por Coronavírus - Pandemias - Isolamento Social - Esclerose Múltipla

Authors’ contributions:

CFD was responsible for the selection of patients in accordance with the inclusion criteria, as well as for the planning and design of the study, the analysis of the data, and the writing of the article. F Bilek did the planning and design of the study, the analysis of the data, and the writing of the article. F Balgetir carried out the planning and design of the study, the upload and distribution of surveys to the online system, the analysis of the data, and the writing of the article.


Compliance with ethical standards:

our study was approved according to the local ethical committee. All patients gave their informed written consent to be enrolled in the study according to the Declaration of Helsinki.


Financial disclosure and conflict of interests: The authors state having financial affiliation (including research funding) or involvement with any commercial organization with a direct financial interest in any matter included in this manuscript.




Publication History

Received: 08 July 2020

Accepted: 25 July 2020

Article published online:
13 June 2023

© 2020. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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