Signs of multiple sclerosis: A new study on depression and anxiety

Mental health issues are often correlated with other diseases, including extremely serious ones.

A new discovery shows that anxiety and depression might be the first signs of mutiple sclerosis - or, at least, for some people.

Let's find out more about how it was tested.

How it was detected

New research shows that individuals who have mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression have higher risks of multiple sclerosis (MS).

This experiment indicates that these psychiatric conditions may be part of a prodromal phase of MS, which includes early symptoms and clues that appear before more traditional MS symptoms.

The specialists examined health records of 6,862 individuals and found that they experienced mental health issues twice more often of the others, at 28.0% compared to 14.9%.

Healthcare usage for various psychiatric symptoms was also consistently higher among these patients, and this gap grew in the years leading up to the disease's onset.

Why it's important

While these mental health conditions alone cannot predict MS, they may be one piece of the MS prodrome puzzle when combined with other factors.

Understanding these early red flags could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, potentially slowing the progression of the disease and improving patients' quality of life.
 

• Related news:
• research
• brain
• depression
• anxiety
• 28 October 2023

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