Memory in Polish multiple sclerosis patients - correlations with mood and fatigue

Aim. Assessment of the selected aspects of memory in Polish patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the associations between memory and clinical course, neurological status, mood, fatigue, and employment status. Material and methods. The initial five learning trials of the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), the initial three learning trials of the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-revised (BVMT-R), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale were administered to 100 MS patients and 150 healthy participants (HP). Results. The MS group performed worse than the HP group on both the CVLT and the BVMT-R. The lowest scores were obtained by secondary progressive MS patients. There were significant differences between the MS and HP group on fatigue and depression, but not anxiety. Multivariate analysis showed worse neurological status was the only clinical predictor of memory disturbances. CVLT scores were significantly associated with employment status. Conclusions. Memory impairment occurs in patients with MS and affects employment status. Depressive symptoms, anxiety and fatigue, unlike neurological status, were not directly related to memory status.

Automated summary

The study found that memory impairment is common in patients with multiple sclerosis and affects employment status. Poor neurological status is the only clinical predictor of memory disturbances, and memory scores are significantly associated with employment status. Depression, anxiety, and fatigue are not directly related to memory status.