This study is complete and the results can be found here.

Professor Roshan das Nair (Lead)

We know that the mental health of the general public has been negatively affected by COVID-19. We wanted to know whether people with multiple sclerosis (MS) were more adversely affected by the pandemic than the general public because of the disabilities that many people with MS have, the requirement to ‘shield’, and due to reduced contact with others. This study used longitudinal data on measures of depression and anxiety from before the COVID-19 outbreak to during the outbreak to examine the impact of the outbreak on anxiety and depression levels in people with MS. We also collected cross-sectional data from people with MS and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic to explore their mental health, psychological wellbeing and lifestyle changes.

Based on data from 2,010 people with MS and 380 control participants, we found that people with MS experience high levels of anxiety and depression compared to the general population, and these have remained high during the pandemic. These mood problems have a significant negative impact on their general health, which has a comparable if not more of an impact than COVID-19 itself. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a negative impact on people with MS’s lifestyle and social connectedness, which could be associated with their worsening mood problems and MS symptoms.