Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica

ObjectiveTo assess anxiety and depression in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). MethodsEligible patients with NMO were assessed with Hamilton anxiety rating scale-14 (HARS-14), Hamilton depression rating scale-21 (HDRS-21) and expanded disability status scale (EDSS). ResultsA total of 65 NMO patients 〔(39.85±10.36) yr.，male/female: 5/60) participated in this study. They had a median EDSS score of 2.5 and a mean score of (37.37±20.44) for bodily pain. About 76.9% of patients were NMO-IgG seropositive. The participants had (11.03±6.95) HARS-14 scores and (11.74±7.78) HDRS-21 scores, with 27.69% (18/65) being diagnosed with anxiety and 24.62% (16/65) being depressed. The EDSS scores were correlated with HARS-14 scores (r=0.285, P=0.004) and HDRS-21 scores (r=0.328, P=0.008). Bodily pain was negatively correlated with HARS-14 scores (r=-0.561, Pr=-0.496, Pr=0.285, P=0.022). Age, sex, duration of disease, and serum NMO-IgG were not correlated with HARS-14 scores and HDRS-21 scores. The logistic regression model identified bodily pain as a predictor of anxiety and depression in NMO patients (OR=1.052, 1.046, respectively, P<0.05). ConclusionDisability and bodily pain are associated with anxiety and depression in NMO patients, while relapse is associated with anxiety only. Bodily pain is a predictor of anxiety and depression in NMO patients.