Assessing Depression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is frequently accompanied by symptoms of depression. Previous research has highlighted the impact of depression on MS disease course and treatment adherence. However, the assessment of depression in the context of MS is complicated by shared symptoms, such as fatigue and concentration difficulties. The goal of this paper is to describe the impact of depression in persons with MS and to review methods commonly used to assess depression in this population. Clinical implications of this review as well as recommendations for future research on the assessment of depression in MS will be discussed.