Anxiety disorders in multiple sclerosis: significance of obsessive-compulsive disorder comorbidity

ABSTRACT

Considering reports on the associations of symptoms of anxiety disorders with multiple sclerosis [MS], this study aimed to 1] further evaluate various anxiety disorders systematically presenting in patients with MS and 2] compare the results with a control group. To assess anxiety disorders in patients with MS in a case-control study, 85 registered patients in the Iranian Multiple Sclerosis Society [IMSS] were randomly selected according to the inclusion criteria. A group of healthy individuals whose age and gender were matched with the case group were also selected. Both groups underwent a clinical interview based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Frequency of diagnosis of all anxiety disorders in the two groups was 22.4% and 7.1%, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference. Frequency of obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD] was significantly higher in the case group [P < 0.05]. Relation of university education with the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder was significant too [P < 0.05]. OCD in patients with MS was more frequently observed than in the control group