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The effect of social support on the symptoms of depression experienced by Portuguese patients with multiple sclerosis

D. Costa, M.J. Sá, J.M. Calheiros [REV NEUROL 2011;53:457-462] PMID: 21960385 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.5308.2011161

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Volumen 53 | Number 08 | Nº of views of the article 4.524 | Nº of PDF downloads 454 | Article publication date 16/10/2011

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ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION The prevalence of depressive symptoms is high among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite being associated with low levels of social support, few studies showing the importance of the buffer effect on depressive symptoms. The aim is to analyze the effect of social support on depressive symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS The sample is composed by 150 MS consecutive patients attending the MS Outpatient Clinic of Hospital S. João, Porto, that gave written consent; illiterate subjects were excluded. The disease parameters, as duration, clinical course and disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale) were collected in the clinical protocols. In the comparison of socio-demographic variables and parameters with the depressive symptoms we used the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H. In interferential analysis we used the MLR with stepwise selection of variables.

RESULTS Age, education emotional social support, disability, duration of illness and the primary and secondary forms determine together 42.4% of depressive symptoms. Gender, marital status, be unskilled worker, have material social support and relapsing- remitting form does not determine any change in depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS The emotional social support is a predictor of depressive symptoms. This study reinforces the need for professionals to be sources of social support in promoting programs that reduce the risk of depressive symptoms. KeywordsBeck Depression Inventory Demyelinating diseases Depression Multiple sclerosis Social support Sociodemographic variables CategoriesEsclerosis múltiple Neuropsiquiatría

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Original

The effect of social support on the symptoms of depression experienced by Portuguese patients with multiple sclerosis