Personality disorders in pateints with multiple sclerosis: Prevalence and association with depressive and anxiety disorders and clinical features

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study examines the current prevalence of mood, anxiety and personality disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), the impact of personality disorders on clinical features of MS and the existence of depressive and anxiety disorders. Methods: The study sample comprised of 55 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 56 control subjects. Axis I diagnoses including mood and anxiety disorders and personality disorders were ascertained by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition / Clinical Version and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM, Revised Third Edition Personality Disorders, respectively. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to determine degree of disability due to MS. Results: The prevalence of any mood, any anxiety and any personality disorders in patients with MS were 40.0%, 38.2% and 45.5%, respectively, which are significantly higher than the control subjects. Major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, avoidant personality disorder and obsessivecompulsive personality disorder were more frequent in patients with MS compared to the controls. In comparison to MS patients without personality disorders, MS patients with personality disorders had a more frequent occurence of any mood disorder, any anxiety disorder, major depression, posttraumatic stress disorders and MS attacks, and higher scoresof EDSS. Conclusions: Mood, anxiety and personality disorders are frequently seen in patients with MS. The results also suggest that personality disorders may negatively affect the existence of mood and anxiety disorders as well as the clinical course of MS in the patients.