Evaluation of Types of Psychological Disorders in Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)

BACKGROUND:Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), commonly characterized by affecting optic nerves and spinal cord can be regarded as one of uncommon diseases of the central nervous system. Although the evidence presented in the literature supports cognitive impairments, psychological aspects of the disease and its association with various manifestations of the disease have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate psychological aspects of patients with NMOSD compared to healthy individuals.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The patients' demographic information including their age and gender as well as the information about their disease including duration of the symptoms, the age at onset of symptoms, and NMO antibody status were collected using a specific questionnaire. Then, age- and gender-matched control participants that neither themselves nor their relatives had mentioned disease were included in the study. Then, Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) test was administered to both groups.RESULTS:A total of 36 patients including 32 females and 4 males participated in the NMOSD group. In the control group, 37 healthy individuals including 30 females and 7 males took part in the study. Findings of the present study indicated that, patients with NMOSD significantly suffered from psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, hostility, and somatization compared to healthy controls. The phobic anxiety and psychoticism showed trends toward being worse. However, obsessive compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity and paranoid ideation did not have significant differences between the two groups.CONCLUSION:According to results of the present study, as psychological disorders are common among patients with NMOSD, they should be thoroughly examined to offer more effective therapies in this regard. In addition, the psychological manifestations of NMOSD may influence patients' relationship, occupation and treatment compliance. So, evaluation of these factors is important in these patients.