Volume 28, Issue 10 pp. 3396-3402

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Perceived stress and social support in a large population of people with multiple sclerosis recruited online through the COVID-19 pandemic

Simona Bonavita,

Corresponding Author

Simona Bonavita

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-8561-9720

Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Naples, Italy

Neurological Institute for Diagnosis and Care ‘Hermitage Capodimonte‘, Naples, Italy

Correspondence

Simona Bonavita, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli‘, Naples, Italy.

Email: [email protected]

Contribution: Conceptualization (lead), Data curation (lead), Methodology (equal), Writing - original draft (lead)

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Maddalena Sparaco,

Maddalena Sparaco

Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Naples, Italy

Contribution: Conceptualization (supporting), Data curation (supporting), Resources (equal), Supervision (equal)

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Antonio Russo,

Antonio Russo

Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Naples, Italy

Contribution: Data curation (equal)

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Giovanna Borriello,

Giovanna Borriello

Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Ospedale S. Andrea, Rome, Italy

Contribution: Data curation (equal), Investigation (equal), Resources (equal)

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Luigi Lavorgna,

Luigi Lavorgna

orcid.org/0000-0003-4625-4236

Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Naples, Italy

Contribution: Methodology (equal), Supervision (equal)

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Simona Bonavita,

Corresponding Author

Simona Bonavita

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-8561-9720

Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Naples, Italy

Neurological Institute for Diagnosis and Care ‘Hermitage Capodimonte‘, Naples, Italy

Correspondence

Simona Bonavita, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli‘, Naples, Italy.

Email: [email protected]

Contribution: Conceptualization (lead), Data curation (lead), Methodology (equal), Writing - original draft (lead)

Search for more papers by this author

Maddalena Sparaco,

Maddalena Sparaco

Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Naples, Italy

Contribution: Conceptualization (supporting), Data curation (supporting), Resources (equal), Supervision (equal)

Search for more papers by this author

Antonio Russo,

Antonio Russo

Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Naples, Italy

Contribution: Data curation (equal)

Search for more papers by this author

Giovanna Borriello,

Giovanna Borriello

Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Ospedale S. Andrea, Rome, Italy

Contribution: Data curation (equal), Investigation (equal), Resources (equal)

Search for more papers by this author

Luigi Lavorgna,

Luigi Lavorgna

orcid.org/0000-0003-4625-4236

Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Naples, Italy

Contribution: Methodology (equal), Supervision (equal)

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 23 December 2020

https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.14697

Citations: 36

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Abstract

Background and purpose

The COVID-19 emergency may cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and with regard to people with MS (pwMS) chronic exposure to a wide range of challenging life events has been shown to be correlated with worsening of neurological symptoms, increased lesion burden on brain magnetic resonance imaging and relapses. The aim was to investigate perceived stress, depression, perceived social support, habits and behaviour changes in pwMS through COVID-19 in comparison to a control group.

Methods

A web-based survey was posted on SMsocialnetwork.com to investigate perceived stress (using the Perceived Stress Scale), depression (with Patient Health Questionnaire 2) and perceived social support (using Social Provision Scale 10 item) in pwMS and a control group through the COVID-19 pandemic. A secondary group of people with migraine was investigated.

Results

In all, 1286 answers from 612 pwMS and 674 control people were included in the final analysis. The answers from 318 people with migraine were included for a secondary analysis. A higher proportion of pwMS were depressed (43.1% vs. 23.1%; p < 0.001), had a high level of perceived stress (58% vs. 39.8%; p < 0.001) and felt significantly less social support (median 33 vs. 35; Q1–Q3 28–36 vs. 32–37; p < 0.001) compared to the control group. A higher percentage of people with migraine were depressed (50% vs. 43%, p = 0.04) compared to pwMS.

Conclusions

Considering the negative impact that prolonged stress may have on clinical and radiological disease activity of pwMS, and bearing in mind that a beneficial effect has been demonstrated and achieved with stress management, it is suggested to promote stress control in these patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Supporting Information

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Citing Literature

Volume28, Issue10

Special Issue:COVID‐19

October 2021

Pages 3396-3402

Filename	Description
ene14697-sup-0001-TableS1.docxWord document, 17.4 KB	Table S1
ene14697-sup-0002-TableS2.docxWord document, 19.2 KB	Table S2
ene14697-sup-0003-TableS3.docxWord document, 25.3 KB	Table S3
ene14697-sup-0004-TableS4.docxWord document, 20.2 KB	Table S4

Perceived stress and social support in a large population of people with multiple sclerosis recruited online through the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background and purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Supporting Information

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

Information

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Perceived stress and social support in a large population of people with multiple sclerosis recruited online through the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background and purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Open Research

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Supporting Information

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information