Social anxiety disorder among patients with multiple sclerosis: a population-based case-control study in Ecuador
*Corresponding author: Dr. Joyce Jiménez Zambrano. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil. Avda. Presidente Carlos Julio Arosemena Tola. CP 090615. Guayaquil, Ecuador.
E-mail: joyce.jimenez@cu.ucsg.edu.ec
Introduction: Several studies have found that individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience relatively high rates of anxiety and depression; however, there are few reports about social anxiety in individuals with MS.
Aim: To analyze the prevalence of social anxiety disorder and other psychiatric comorbidities in MS patients compared to matched controls.
Subjects and methods: We included 50 patients with MS that were seen during regularly scheduled visits and 50 sex- and age-matched participants from the general population within a six-month interval. All included participants completed the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale with 21 items (DASS-21). We defined clinically significant social anxiety symptoms as SPIN scores = 19.
Results: The MS patients' mean age was 41.9 years (54% female). The self-reported psychosocial assessments showed that MS participants were more likely to present positive social anxiety symptoms (OR = 7.37; 95% CI = 1.99-27.30; p < 0.001), depression (OR = 3.76; 95% CI = 1.41-10.10; p = 0.006), stress (OR = 2.67; 95% CI = 1.09-6.52; p = 0.029), and general anxiety (OR = 4.70; 95% CI = 1.93-11.40; p < 0.001) than the general population. There were moderate correlations between social anxiety and depression (p = 0,006), general anxiety (p = 0,001), and stress (p < 0,001) in MS patients.
Conclusions: Patients with MS had a higher risk of presenting social anxiety symptoms than a matched control group in a Hispanic population.
Objetivo Analizar la prevalencia del trastorno de ansiedad social y otras comorbilidades psiquiátricas en pacientes con EM en comparación con los controles pareados.
Sujetos y métodos Durante un intervalo de seis meses, incluimos a 50 pacientes con EM que fueron observados durante visitas programadas regularmente y a 50 participantes de la población general pareados por sexo y edad. Todos los participantes completaron el inventario de fobia social (SPIN) y la escala de depresión, ansiedad y estrés de 21 ítems. Definimos síntomas de ansiedad social clínicamente significativos los que tenían un resultado en el SPIN mayor o igual a 19.
Resultados La edad media de los pacientes con EM era de 41,9 años (el 54%, mujeres). Las evaluaciones psicológicas notificadas demostraron que los participantes con EM tenían más probabilidad de presentar síntomas positivos de ansiedad social (OR = 7,37; IC 95% = 1,99-27,30; p < 0,001), depresión (OR = 3,76; IC 95% = 1,41-10,10; p = 0,006), estrés (OR = 2,67; IC 95% = 1,09-6,52; p = 0,029) y ansiedad general (OR = 4,70; IC 95% = 1,93-11,40; p < 0,001) que la población general. Se observaron correlaciones moderadas entre ansiedad social y depresión (p = 0,006), ansiedad general (p = 0,001) y estrés (p < 0,001) en los pacientes con EM.
Conclusiones Los pacientes con EM tienen un riesgo más elevado de presentar síntomas de ansiedad social que la población hispana en general.
