Psychosocial Effects of the Pandemic on MS Patients at a University Hospital Following Patients with Telemedicine, Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The psychosocial effect of the pandemic on people with a disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS) that can cause disability and which medications that affect the immune system are used in treatment should be evaluated by physicians. We aimed to determine the psychosocial effects of the pandemic on MS patients and to evaluate the working and treatment continuation status, compliance with pandemic rules, and their perceptions regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional and descriptive survey study. A total of 315 MS patients’ demographic data, comorbidities, and degrees of disability, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), and compliance scores with pandemic restrictions were evaluated. Results: In the first period of the pandemic, approximately one-third of the patients were found to have major depression, and approximately 10% to have COVID anxiety. Both COVID anxiety and BDI scores were significantly higher in patients with symptoms suggestive of an attack during the pandemic process (p:0.0001 and p:0.002). CAS was higher in those who had a COVID-19 contact (p:0.045). BDI scores were significantly higher (respectively p:0.034, p:0.006, p:0.0001) in married/ cohabiting patients, in patients who went on unpaid leave or lost their job, and in patients who described worsening of their previous MS-related complaints. Conclusion: Although the pandemic negatively affects the psychosocial status of MS patients, this effect can be reduced by identifying the groups that may be affected via telemedicine and taking necessary interventions. © 2022 by Turkish Association of Neuropsychiatry