Dissociable cognitive patterns related to depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leavitt, Victoria M; Brandstadter, Rachel; Fabian, Michelle; Katz Sand, Ilana; Klineova, Sylvia; Krieger, Stephen; Lewis, Christina; Lublin, Fred; Miller, Aaron; Pelle, Gabrielle; Buyukturkoglu, Korhan; De Jager, Phillip L; Li, Peipei; Riley, Claire S; Tsapanou, Angeliki; Sumowski, James F
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 26:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 1247
• Page End: 1255
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Anxiety -- depression -- cognition -- multiple sclerosis -- memory impairment; Central nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Myelin sheath -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; Central Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Demyelinating Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple Sclerosis -- Periodicals; Système nerveux central -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Gaine de myéline -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Inflammation (Pathologie) -- Périodiques; Sclérose en plaques -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.834005
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458519860319
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

Background: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently present with depression and anxiety, as well as cognitive impairment, challenging clinicians to disentangle interrelationships among these symptoms. Objective: To identify cognitive functions associated with anxiety and depression in MS. Methods: Mood and cognition were measured in 185 recently diagnosed patients (Reserve Against Disability in Early Multiple Sclerosis (RADIEMS) cohort), and an independent validation sample (MEM CONNECT cohort, n = 70). Partial correlations evaluated relationships of cognition to anxiety and depression controlling for age, sex, education, and premorbid verbal intelligence. Results: In RADIEMS cohort, lower anxiety was associated with better nonverbal memory ( rp = –0.220, p = 0.003) and lower depression to better attention/processing speed ( rp = –0.241, p = 0.001). Consistently, in MEM CONNECT cohort, lower anxiety was associated with better nonverbal memory ( rp = –0.271, p = 0.028) and lower depression to better attention/processing speed ( rp = –0.367, p = 0.002). Relationships were unchanged after controlling for T2 lesion volume and fatigue. Conclusion: Consistent mood–cognition relationships were identified in two independent cohorts of MS patients, suggesting that cognitive correlates of anxiety and depression are separable. This dissociation may support more precise models to inform treatment development. Treatment of mood symptoms may mitigate effects on cognition and/or treatment of cognition may mitigate effects on mood.