Anxiety Disorders and Their Clinical Correlates in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Demographic & neurological data were collected on 140 consecutive patients with multiple sclerosis attending a clinic. The lifetime prevalence of any anxiety disorder was 35.7%, with panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, & generalized anxiety disorders being the most common. Of the 50 patients diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, 46% reported suicidal intent & 6.0% reported a suicide attempt. In the 90 patients without an anxiety disorder, 18.9% reported suicidal intent & 4.4% reported a suicide attempt. (34 refs.)