Fear of relapse, social support, and psychological well-being (depression, anxiety, and stress level) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) during the COVID-19 pandemic stage

BACKGROUND: Psychological well-being assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The goal of this study is to evaluate fear of relapse, social support, and psychological well-being (depression, anxiety, and stress level) of Iranian patients with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic stage. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-five patients were enrolled. We asked all cases to fill valid and reliable Persian version of depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21), perceived social support, and fear of relapse scale questionnaires. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-five patients were enrolled. Female to male ratio was (F/M) = 4.6. Mean age and mean duration of disease were 35.3±8.6 and 7.1±5 years, respectively. Mean scores of social support, DASS, and FoR questionnaires were 63.1±16.8, 16.4±13.4, and 51.4±17.3, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between social support and FoR scores and also significant positive correlations between components of DASS and FoR. Linear regression analysis by considering FoR as dependent variable and age, sex, marital status, duration of the disease, and EDSS as dependent variables showed that sex was an independent predictor of FoR score. CONCLUSION: Psychological well-being as well as fear of relapse should be considered in patients with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic stage.