Neuropsychiatric literature demonstrates the high impact of cognitive deficits in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), as well as the increased prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic illnesses, especially in the subgroup of MS patients. The aim of our study is to investigate the existence of an association between depression, anxiety and cognitive deficits in patients with MS.

Demographic data, MS subtypes, and years since diagnosis were documented for 60 patients with MS, who participated in our study. Patients were evaluated for depression and anxiety by the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Spielberger's questionnaire (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) respectively. The Symbol Digital Modalities Test (SDMT) was used to evaluate cognitive deficits.

According to our preliminary data, 60% of MS-patients scored higher than normal in the BDI. There was a significant negative correlation between years since diagnosis and SDMT (Pearson's correlation <0.01), as well as between BDI and SDMT (Pearson's correlation <0.01). No correlation was established between anxiety and both depression and SDMT.

Depression and cognitive deficits have a high prevalence in patients with MS. This is due to the severity and chronicity of MS. In our study, depression is strongly associated with cognitive deficits and years since diagnosis of MS, although it is still in progress for further data evaluation. More studies are required to elucidate the cause of this established association.