Investigating the Relationship Between Physical and Psychological Parameters in Participants with Multiple Sclerosis

This study investigates the associations among disease duration, balance, anxiety, and depression in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), along with how these parameters correlate with quality of life. Sixty-three participants with a mean age of 45.65±11.04 years were included. Spearman correlation analysis assessed these correlations. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) measured anxiety and depression symptoms, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) assessed balance, and the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 Questionnaire (MSQOL-54) evaluated quality of life. A negative and significant relationship was found between participants' disease duration and balance (r =-0.362, p = 0.004). However, no significant relationships were observed between disease duration and anxiety, depression, and quality of life (p> 0.05). Negative correlations were identified between balance and anxiety (r =-0.330, p = 0.008) and between balance and depression (r =-0.311, p = 0.013). Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between balance and quality of life, while negative correlations were identified between quality of life and both anxiety and depression. Given that MS profoundly affects individuals, a holistic evaluation is crucial for a comprehensive understanding. Future studies are encouraged to adopt a holistic approach, incorporating assessments of cognitive states and exploring interrelationships between these parameters.