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Multiple sclerosis: correlation of anxiety, physical impairment and cognitive dysfunction

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the correlation between anxiety and physical impairment and to discover whether anxiety correlated with specific forms of cognitive dysfunction. Ninetyfour patients (42 females, 52 males) with definite MS entered the study. Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, physical impairment by means of the Kurtzke Disability Status scale, and cognitive impairment by using the Trail Making, Symbol Digit Modalities, Auditory Verbal Learning, Story Recall and the Recurring Figures tests. Moderately handicapped patients (DSS 4–5) showed signs of anxiety, and physical impairment correlated with anxiety (p<0.05; d.f. 1.92). Trail Making also correlated with anxiety (p<0.01; d.f. 1.86). On the basis of the results of this and previous studies, it is concluded that anxiety can be a sign of cognitive dysfunction, physical impairment or social strain.

Sommario

Scopo del presente lavoro è stato quello di esaminare la correlazione tra ansia e disabilità e di valutare se gli stati ansiosi fossero correlati con forme specifiche di disturbi cognitivi. Novantaquattro pazienti (42 femmine e 52 maschi) con SM definita sono stati reclutati nel presente studio. L'ansia è stata valutata secondo lo State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, la disabilità fisica mediante la scala di Kurtzke e per i disturbi cognitivi sono stati somministrati i seguenti test: Trail Making, Symbol Digit Modalities, Auditory Verbal Learning, Story Recall e Recurring Figures.

I pazienti con un handicap moderato (DSS 4–5) mostravano segni di ansia e il disturbo era correlato con lo stato di ansia (p<0.05; d.f. 1. 92). Pure il test Trail Making era correlato con l'ansia (p<0.01; d.f. 1.86). Sulla base di questi e di precedenti studi, si conclude che l'ansia quò essere un segno di disfunzione cognitiva, di disturbi fisici o di pressione sociale.

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Different versions of parts of this study were presented at “Fachtagung Neuropsychologische Rehabilitation bei Multipler Sklerose”, Göttingen University, June 8th 1991; at the scientific symposium at the annual International MS conference, Amsterdam, Oct. 15–16 1991, and the Second Pan-European Congress of Neurology, Wien, Dec. 8–14 1991.

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Stenager, E., Knudsen, L. & Jensen, K. Multiple sclerosis: correlation of anxiety, physical impairment and cognitive dysfunction. Ital J Neuro Sci 15, 97–101 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02340120

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