The Relationship between Cognitive Impairment and Psychological Status in People with Multiple Sclerosis

People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) often experience symptoms that can have a significant impact on psychological and cognitive functioning. Research has previously shown a significant association between these two functions. The aim of this paper was to study the association between psychological factors (depression and fatigue) and cognitive functions (memory, verbal fluency, and information processing speed). Studying fatigue, depressed mood, and the combination between them can provide important indications to how psychological status relates to cognitive functioning. Cognitive functions of memory, verbal fluency, and information processing speed were measured through Buschke Selective Reminding test, Controlled Oral Word Association test, and the Symbol Digit Modalities test, respectively. Depressed mood was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and fatigue was measured with the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions. Patients (N=124; mean age = 50...Show morePeople with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) often experience symptoms that can have a significant impact on psychological and cognitive functioning. Research has previously shown a significant association between these two functions. The aim of this paper was to study the association between psychological factors (depression and fatigue) and cognitive functions (memory, verbal fluency, and information processing speed). Studying fatigue, depressed mood, and the combination between them can provide important indications to how psychological status relates to cognitive functioning. Cognitive functions of memory, verbal fluency, and information processing speed were measured through Buschke Selective Reminding test, Controlled Oral Word Association test, and the Symbol Digit Modalities test, respectively. Depressed mood was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and fatigue was measured with the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions. Patients (N=124; mean age = 50.77 [SD = 13.5]; 25% male, 93% female; 9.7% PPMS, 28.5% SPMS, 61.3% RRMS) were categorized into four groups based on their depression and fatigue scores using clinical cut-offs (i.e., psychologically intact [no depressive mood, not fatigued], depressive mood but not fatigued, fatigued but no depressive mood, and psychologically impaired [depressive mood and fatigued]). Group did significantly differ on MS type (p < .05), Group 1 (psychologically intact) and Group 4 (no depressive mood but fatigued) were more likely to have a relapse-remitting disease course. However, findings suggest no significant association between group and cognitive functioning. Scores on the cognitive tests were similar across all groups (p = .203). This indicates that cognitive functioning is independent of psychological status. However, in light of the limitations, it is important to build on future studies to investigate this relationship further, to indicate a next step in the treatment and intervention of MS in terms of psychological problems, cognitive deficits, or both.Show less

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The Relationship between Cognitive Impairment and Psychological Status in People with Multiple Sclerosis