Influence of psychological and social factors on self perceived health-related quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, affecting people of young age and often leading to disability. Self-perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is reduced in MS patients. Aims: This study aims to investigate the impact of psychological variables on the HRQoL of patients suffering from MS. Methods: Two-hundred-fifty patients with diagnosis of MS according to universally recognized criteria were consecutively recruited and underwent neurological examination with EDSS score and interviewed for past and current medical history. Patients were administered the Cognitive Behavioral Assessment (CBA) primary scales, aimed to assess a broad spectrum of psychological aspects. HRQoL was assessed by means a generic scale, the SF-36. Results: We found an association between MS patients’ HRQoL and specific psychological variables, mainly personality traits, such as extroversion and neuroticism (p<0.001), obsessive-compulsive disorder (p<0.05). An expected significant association with depression was also found (p<0.001) Conclusions: As a patient-reported outcome, HRQoL in MS patients is likely to be influenced by individual psychological traits. Our study suggests that self-perception of HRQoL depends, among other determinants, on specific psychological variables. This association appears to be partly independent of degree of disability