Research ArticleOriginal Article
Open Access

The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Persons with Multiple Sclerosis in Saudi Arabia

Ahmed N. Alshammari, Khalid A. Alshammari, Salman N. Alshammari, Saad Y. Aldhaifi and Abdulaziz S. Alqahtani
Neurosciences Journal April 2023, 28 (2) 108-115; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17712/nsj.2023.2.20110104

Article Figures & Data

Figures

Tables

  • Table 1

    - Socio-demographic data of MS patients, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Socio-demographic dataNo(%)
    Age in years
    18-2464(8.7)
    25-34277(37.5)
    35-44272(36.9)
    45-5495(12.9)
    >5530(4.1)
    Gender
    Male249(33.7)
    Female489(66.3)
    Marital status
    Single264(35.8)
    Married412(55.8)
    Divorced/widow62(8.4)
    Educational level
    Below secondary37(5.0)
    Secondary175(23.7)
    University / above526(71.3)
    Employment
    Unemployed347(47.0)
    Student67(9.1)
    Employed324(43.9)
    Monthly income
    <5000 SR390(52.8)
    5000-10000 SR183(24.8)
    10000-15000 SR111(15.0)
    >15000 SR54(7.3)
  • Table 2

    - Multiple Sclerosis patients characteristic, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Received covid vaccine
    Yes685(92.8)
    No53(7.2)
    Duration of MS
    < 2 years117(15.9)
    2-5 years171(23.2)
    5-10 years199(27.0)
    > 10 years251(34.0)
    Medications used
    Gilenya120(16.3)
    Betaferon113(15.3)
    Others107(14.5)
    Ocrevus74(10.0)
    Rebif63(8.5)
    Tysabri58(7.9)
    Aubagio58(7.9)
    Tecfidera57(7.7)
    Lemtrada5(.7)
    Mavenclad4(.5)
    Copaxone4(.5)
    Mitoxantrone4(.5)
    Mayzent2(.3)
    None91(12.3)
    Dont know32(4.3)
    Use vitamin D
    Yes558(75.6)
    No180(24.4)
  • Table 3

    - Psychological health of MS patients, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Psychological healthNo(%)
    Depression level
    Minimal depression83(11.2)
    Mild depression246(33.3)
    Moderate depression209(28.3)
    Moderately severe anxiety105(14.2)
    Severe anxiety95(12.9)
    Anxiety level
    Minimal anxiety127(17.2)
    Mild anxiety272(36.9)
    Moderate anxiety172(23.3)
    Severe anxiety167(22.6)
    Psychological disorder
    Normal58(7.9)
    Depression69(9.3)
    Anxiety23(3.1)
    Depression & anxiety588(79.7)
  • Table 4

    - Relation of MS patients’ diseases duration, vaccination, and medications intake with their psychological health.

    FactorsPsychological disorderp-value
    NormalDepressionAnxietyDepression & anxiety
    No(%)No(%)No(%)No(%)
    Duration of MS
    <2 years11(9.4)7(6.0)1(.9)98(83.8).026*
    2-5 years18(10.5)17(9.9)10(5.8)126(73.7)
    5-10 years11(5.5)18(9.0)1(.5)169(84.9)
    > 10 years18(7.2)27(10.8)11(4.4)195(77.7)
    Received covid vaccine
    Yes57(8.3)67(9.8)21(3.1)540(78.8).049*$
    No1(1.9)2(3.8)2(3.8)48(90.6)
    Medications used
    Gilenya15(12.5)10(8.3)4(3.3)91(75.8).490$
    Tysabri3(5.2)6(10.3)1(1.7)48(82.8)
    Betaferon9(8.0)18(15.9)5(4.4)81(71.7)
    Ocrevus7(9.5)4(5.4)1(1.4)62(83.8)
    Tecfidera8(14.0)6(10.5)3(5.3)40(70.2)
    Mavenclad0(0.0)0(0.0)1(25.0)3(75.0)
    Aubagio2(3.4)3(5.2)1(1.7)52(89.7)
    Rebif3(4.8)8(12.7)1(1.6)51(81.0)
    Mayzent0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)2(100.0)
    Copaxone0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)4(100.0)
    Mitoxantrone0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)4(100.0)
    Lemtrada0(0.0)0(0.0)0(0.0)5(100.0)
    Others10(9.3)11(10.3)4(3.7)82(76.6)
    None3(3.3)8(8.8)3(3.3)77(84.6)
    Dont know2(6.3)1(3.1)0(0.0)29(90.6)
    Use vitamin D
    Yes427.5%549.7%173.0%44579.7%.891
    No168.9%158.3%63.3%14379.4%
  • Table 5

    - Relation of MS patients’ socio-demographic data with their psychological health.

    Socio-demographic dataPsychological disorderp-value
    NormalDepressionAnxietyDepression & anxiety
    No(%)No(%)No(%)No(%)
    Age in years
    18-247(10.9)5(7.8)1(1.6)51(79.7).272$
    25-3426(9.4)20(7.2)7(2.5)224(80.9)
    35-4418(6.6)32(11.8)9(3.3)213(78.3)
    45-544(4.2)7(7.4)6(6.3)78(82.1)
    > 553(10.0)5(16.7)0(0.0)22(73.3)
    Gender
    Male27(10.8)33(13.3)7(2.8)182(73.1).006*
    Female31(6.3)36(7.4)16(3.3)406(83.0)
    Marital status
    Single17(6.4)26(9.8)5(1.9)216(81.8).043*
    Married35(8.5)33(8.0)18(4.4)326(79.1)
    Divorced / widow6(9.7)10(16.1)0(0.0)46(74.2)
    Educational level
    Below secondary0(0.0)4(10.8)1(2.7)32(86.5).199$
    Secondary14(8.0)17(9.7)1(.6)143(81.7)
    University / above44(8.4)48(9.1)21(4.0)413(78.5)
    Employment
    Unemployed20(5.8)26(7.5)8(2.3)293(84.4).048*
    Student9(13.4)6(9.0)1(1.5)51(76.1)
    Employed29(9.0)37(11.4)14(4.3)244(75.3)
    Monthly income
    < 5000 SR24(6.2)33(8.5)7(1.8)326(83.6).007*
    5000-10000 SR14(7.7)19(10.4)9(4.9)141(77.0)
    10000-15000 SR11(9.9)7(6.3)4(3.6)89(80.2)
    > 15000 SR9(16.7)10(18.5)3(5.6)32(59.3)
Back to top

In this issue

Print
Download PDF
Email Article
Citation Tools
Bookmark this article

Jump to section