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Association between depression and survival in Chinese amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

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Abstract

To determine the prevalence of depression, to identify correlated factors for depression, and to explore the impact on the progression or survival of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by depression in a Chinese population. A total of 166 ALS patients were recruited. Diagnosis of depression disorders and the severity of depression were established by using the fourth diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 items (HDRS-24) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Major depression was found in 15 patients (9.6 %). The multiple regression analysis showed that a lower ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score was correlated with increasing HDRS scores and BDI scores (P = 0.018 and P = 0.012). No significant difference in the median survival time between ALS patients with and without depression was revealed by Kaplan–Meier analysis (log-rank P = 0.282). Cox hazard model showed that the presence of depression in ALS was unrelated to the survival, while the severity of depression in ALS was correlated with the survival. The presence and severity of depression in ALS did not correlate with the progression of ALS. Major depression in ALS is uncommon. Depression evaluation should be given to ALS patients, especially those with lower ALSFRS-R score. The severity of depression may be associated with the survival; however, depression does not worse the progression of ALS.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the patients for their participation in the study.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China

      Qianqian Wei, Zhenzhen Zheng, Xiaoyan Guo, Ruwei Ou, Xueping Chen, Rui Huang, Jing Yang & Huifang Shang

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    1. Qianqian Wei
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    Correspondence to Huifang Shang.

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    Q. Wei and Z. Zheng contribute to this work equally.

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    Wei, Q., Zheng, Z., Guo, X. et al. Association between depression and survival in Chinese amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Neurol Sci 37, 557–563 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-015-2472-y

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