Depression in multiple sclerosis: Review and theoretical proposal

Abstract

Because of its high prevalence and implications for quality of life and possibly even disease progression, depression has been intensively studied in multiple sclerosis (MS) over the past 25 years. Despite the publication of numerous excellent empirical research papers on this topic during that time, the publication of theoretical work that attempts to explain depression in a comprehensive way is scarce. In this study, we present a theoretical model that attempts to integrate existing work on depression in MS and provide testable hypotheses for future work. The model suggests that risk for depression begins with the onset of MS. MS results in disease-related changes such as increased lesion burden/brain atrophy and immunological anomalies that are associated with depression in MS, but explain only a relatively limited proportion of the variance. Common sequelae of MS including fatigue, physical disability, cognitive dysfunction, and pain, have all been shown to have an inconsistent or relatively weak relationship to depression in the literature. In the model, we propose that four variables—social support, coping, conceptions of the self and illness, and stress—may moderate the relationship between the above common MS sequelae with depression and help to explain inconsistencies in the literature. (JINS, 2008, 14, 691–724.)

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of depression is high in multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic and common autoimmune disease that results in the destruction of myelin and gray matter atrophy in the central nervous system. The lifetime risk for depression has been estimated at around 50% (Patten & Metz, 1997; Sadovnick et al., 1996), compared with a lifetime risk in the general population of around 10–15% (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Because of its high prevalence, importance to quality of life and patients' well-being (Kenealy et al., 2000), association with suicidality (Feinstein et al., 2002), and possible influence on the disease course itself (Ackerman et al., 2000; Dalos et al., 1983; Franklin et al., 1988; Mohr et al., 2000), depression has been intensively studied in MS. Nonetheless, although several brief, focused reviews of the literature have been conducted (Dalton & Heinrichs, 2005; Siegert & Abernethy, 2006), and a practical consensus statement on depression published (Goldman Consensus Group, 2005) in recent years, no comprehensive theoretical model of depression in MS has been articulated. The goal of this article is to present an integrated theoretical model of depression in MS that links key findings in the literature, identifies gaps based on existing work, and makes suggestions for future research. We will begin with the articulation of a theoretical model that integrates a variety of factors that have been found to be associated with depression in MS. Following this, we will devote much of the rest of the review to providing some empirical support for the theoretical model.

A MODEL OF DEPRESSION IN MS

A model of depression in MS, incorporating several variables that have been shown to be associated with depression in MS samples, is shown in Figure 1. The onset of MS, depicted at the far left side of the figure, denotes the beginning of risk for depression in MS. As detailed later, all of the factors included in the model have some evidence supporting their association with depression. The “MS Disease Factors” have been directly associated with depression as well as with physical disability, cognitive dysfunction, pain, and fatigue. The “Common MS Sequelae” variables, including depression, are arranged in a circle, as evidence shows that they may be associated with one another as well as being related to disease factors and moderating variables. The “Possible Moderator” variables, which represent factors related to the external circumstances of individuals with MS or to their internal representations of those circumstances, are theorized to impact the relationship between the common MS sequelae and depression, but they have also been shown to be directly associated with depression in MS. They, too, are arranged in a circle, as they are theorized to interact with one another in addition to the common MS sequelae. Although depression is at the intersection of the two circles because it is the focus of the current review, any one of the common MS sequelae could be moved into the intersection from whence associations with disease factors and possible moderators could be systematically investigated. Thus, there is no implicit statement on the direction of influence in the model; rather, dynamic and complex relationships among the variables are likely, as described throughout.

Fig. 1. Model of depression in multiple sclerosis (MS): Disease factors predict common MS sequelae.

We now turn to a review of the evidence supporting the association of the variables depicted in the model with depression in MS. Although most of the research on these variables has been correlational, thus making causal inferences problematic, the literature that has developed over the past 20 years provides impressive insight into the range of factors that may causally contribute to depression in MS. The review will start with disease factors associated with depression in MS. It will then examine some common MS sequelae that are sometimes associated with depression, followed by an examination of possible moderators in the relationship between these common MS sequelae and depression.

In the tables accompanying this article, where possible, we provide effect sizes for the different associations reported. Using the Cohen's (Cohen & Cohen, 1983) framework, effect sizes (Cohen's d) between .20 and .49 were considered small, .50 to .79 moderate, and .80 and above large. Correlations from .20 to .29 were considered small, those from .30 to .49 moderate, and those .50 and above large.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION IN MS

MS Disease-Related Factors

A detailed review of the MS disease factors associated with depression in MS is beyond the scope of the present article. However, it is assumed that disease factors are distal causes of depression in MS either directly or via their influence on other variables in the model (see Figure 1). Of relevance to the current review is the finding that most studies have shown that risk for depression follows the onset of MS (Joffe et al., 1987; Minden et al., 1987; Sadovnick et al., 1996) (but cf. Sullivan et al., 1995).

The weight of most recent work favors an association between depression and demyelination, suggesting some disease-related contribution to depression in MS (Bakshi et al., 2000a; Berg et al., 2000; Fassbender et al., 1998; Feinstein, 2004; Pujol et al., 1997, 2000; Reischies et al., 1988; Zorzon et al., 2001). Certain brain regions may contribute disproportionately, as at least five published studies have reported greater temporal region involvement in depressed compared with nondepressed MS patients (Berg et al., 2000; Feinstein et al., 2004; Honer et al., 1987; Pujol et al., 1997; Zorzon et al., 2001).

Depression in MS also appears to be related to changes in important immunological parameters caused by the disease process. Several studies show that higher levels of T4+ (helper/inducer) cell counts (Foley et al., 1988) and higher levels of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, as measured by cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell counts (Fassbender et al., 1998), are associated with greater depression. Decreased depression has also been associated with reduced interferon-gamma production over time (Mohr et al., 2001). Longitudinally, MS patients' period of greatest depression during a 2-year interval coincided with lower CD8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) cell counts and higher CD4/CD8 ratio (Foley et al., 1992). Taken together, the existing data suggest that depression in MS is associated with neuroimmunological and neurophysiological abnormalities.

Some associations have been established among disease-related factors and the common MS sequelae outlined in the model. Fatigue has been shown to be significantly associated with hyperintense MRI lesions in the brainstem and midbrain in at least one study (Moller et al., 1994), and with measures of axonal integrity (Tartaglia et al., 2004). Cognitive problems in MS are associated with the extent of lesion damage in the brain (Arnett, 2003; Rao et al., 1989a), gray matter hypointensities (Brass et al., 2006), and especially atrophy (Benedict et al., 2006). Gray matter atrophy has also been shown to be associated with physical disability in MS (Pirko et al., 2007), and primary dysfunction or lesion of the CNS is associated with pain in MS (Mersky & Bogduk, 1994).

Common MS Sequelae Associated With Depression That May Be Moderated by Other Variables

For the common MS sequelae shown in Figure 2, findings regarding their association with depression in the literature have been mixed. Inconsistent or weak associations between a predictor and criterion variable often indicate the existence of moderators (Baron & Kenny, 1986). Consideration of moderator variables may help to clarify the mixed relationships reported in the literature. Details on the studies summarized in this section can be found in Table 1. Note that the acronyms in this table and in Table 2 are defined in the Appendix.

Fig. 2. Model of depression in multiple sclerosis (MS): Common MS sequelae predict depression. Note. The different types of lines in this and subsequent figures indicate the strength or weakness of the evidence supporting the influence of a particular factor on MS-related depression: An unbroken line indicates that evidence consistently supports the influence of that factor, a dashed line indicates that evidence for the influence of a particular factor appears to be less consistent on the surface but is more consistent when subject to careful analysis, and a dotted line indicates that the evidence supporting the influence of the particular factor is decidedly mixed. The thickness of the lines reflects the number of studies that have examined the influence of a particular variable on MS-related depression: Thicker lines indicate a greater number of studies, whereas thinner lines indicate fewer studies.

Table 1. Studies examining the relationship between common disease sequelae and depression in MS

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Note

See Appendix for listing of all acronyms.

Table 2. Studies examining relationship between proposed moderators and depression in MS

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Note

See Appendix for listing of all acronyms.

Fatigue

Up to 88% of MS patients complain of significant fatigue (Krupp et al., 1988), and 28% report fatigue as one of their most troubling symptoms. Additionally, fatigue has been identified by MS patients as the one symptom most responsible for them having to cut back on their work hours (Smith & Arnett, 2005), and patients identify fatigue as a central factor in their subsequently becoming unemployed (Edgley et al., 1991; Jackson et al., 1991). Thus, fatigue has significant real world consequences for patients.

The existing data examining the relationship between fatigue and depression in MS are more consistent than with the other sequelae. Eight studies have reported significant associations, whereas four have reported null results. Notably, all four studies reporting null results had much smaller sample sizes than the eight studies reporting significant associations, so low statistical power is likely to be an important contributor to the null findings. Two studies reported large effect sizes (Bakshi et al., 2000b; Fisk et al., 1994; Kroencke, 2000), one medium (Flachenecker et al., 2002), and four small (Krupp et al., 1988, 1989; Schwartz et al., 1996; Vercoulen et al., 1998). Three reported both medium and small effect sizes (Mohr et al., 2003; Schreurs et al., 2002; Voss et al., 2002), and one reported both medium and large effects (Kroencke, 2000). Although results did not reach traditional levels of statistical significance due to low statistical power, Krupp and colleagues' as well as the study by Vercoulen et al. had effect sizes in the small range. Thus, the bulk of the evidence suggests a relationship between depression and fatigue in MS that is in the small to moderate range of effect size.

Physical disability

The relationship between physical/neurological disability and depression in MS is more mixed in the literature than that between depression and fatigue. When operationalized using Kurtzke's (Kurtzke, 1983) Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), some studies (11) have found no relationship between physical disability and depression. However, a comparable number of studies (11) have reported positive findings. The null findings in at least five studies (Fassbender et al., 1998; Minden et al., 1987; Moller et al., 1994; Pujol et al., 1997; Sabatini et al., 1996) can be attributed, in part, to small sample size. Another study (Ron & Logsdail, 1989) appeared to use a nonstandardized measure of disability. However, the remaining studies reporting null findings (Beatty et al., 1990; Huber et al., 1993; Provinciali et al., 1999; Rabins et al., 1986; Schreurs et al., 2002) had reasonably large sample sizes and used standard measures of depression and disability. Mixed findings such as these suggest the presence of moderators.

Regarding effect sizes, four studies reported moderate effect sizes (McIvor et al., 1984; Mohr et al., 1997; Pujol et al., 2000; Zorzon et al., 2001), one large (Kneebone & Dunmore, 2004) and another small (Voss et al., 2002), with two studies reporting both small and moderate effect sizes (Devins et al., 1993; Lynch et al., 2001). Due to the way the data were presented, it was not possible to estimate effect sizes for three studies but the findings they reported were statistically significant (Chwastiak et al., 2002; Goodin & the Northern California MS Study Group, 1999; Janssens et al., 2003). Taken together, these positive findings suggest that the effect size for the relationship between depression and physical disability in MS is in the moderate range.

Cognitive dysfunction

Approximately 50% of MS patients display significant cognitive impairments (Brassington & Marsh, 1998; Rao et al., 1991), and cognitive impairments occur both with and without depression. As Table 1 illustrates, existing studies are evenly divided between studies that reported null effects (12) and those reporting significant associations (10). Regarding the studies reporting null findings, the majority (10 of 12) were characterized by small sample sizes, suggesting that low statistical power could account for the absence of significant effects (DeLuca et al., 1994; Fischer, 1988; Grafman et al., 1991; Krupp et al., 1994; Millefiorini et al., 1992; Minden & Schiffer, 1990; Moller et al., 1994; Rao et al., 1984, 1989b; Schiffer & Caine, 1991). The other study reporting null findings (Good et al., 1992) excluded significantly depressed MS patients from their sample.

Studies reporting significant associations between depression and cognitive performance in MS patients have involved correlating standard measures of depression with measures of cognitive functioning within a heterogeneous MS sample (Aikens et al., 1997; Arnett, 2005; Arnett et al., 2002; Denney et al., 2004; Landro et al., 2004) or comparing depressed and nondepressed MS groups (Arnett et al., 2001, 1999a,b; Beatty et al., 1988; Gilchrist & Creed, 1994).

Studies reporting positive associations did so using a variety of depression measures [e.g., BDI, CES-D, and Chicago Multiscale Depression Inventory [CMDI]) that were either examined continuously or used to create extreme depressed/nondepressed groups. It was not possible to calculate effect size in five of the studies. In the other five, three effect sizes were large (Aikens et al., 1997; Arnett et al., 2001, 2002), and two moderate (Arnett, 2005; Landro et al., 2004).

Taken together, a critical examination suggests that studies with adequate sample sizes generally have reported a positive association between depression and cognitive dysfunction in MS of moderate to large effect size.

Pain

Over 50% of MS patients (Kassirer & Osterberg, 1987; Moulin et al., 1988; Stenager et al., 1991, 1995), and as many as 86% (Indaco et al., 1994), report pain at some time during the course of their MS. As many as 32% of MS patients rate pain as one of their worst symptoms, and a 5-year longitudinal study on pain in MS showed that pain problems increased substantially over time (Stenager et al., 1991, 1995). Findings from studies that have examined the relationship between pain and depression have been mixed, with roughly equal numbers of studies showing a positive versus a null relationship. Despite this inconsistent relationship, it is important to note that not only have few studies been published in this area but, of the three studies with null findings, two (Indaco et al., 1994; Newland et al., 2005) had significant methodological flaws that may have accounted for their results. All of the studies reporting positive findings used adequate sample sizes, and three of the four (Archibald et al., 1994; Kalia & O'Connor, 2005; Tedman et al., 1997) used rigorous measures of pain and standard and well-validated measures of depression or distress. The remaining study (Ehde et al., 2003) used a well-validated measure of depression, but the measure of pain was simply four items on a mail-in survey questionnaire and MS diagnosis was based upon self-report. In terms of effect size, two revealed small and two a moderate effect size. Taken together, if the quality of the study is factored into the analysis, the weight of the evidence supports a relationship between depression and pain in MS, with effect size in the small-moderate range (see Table 1).

As the previous section shows, the research literature on these four common MS sequelae—fatigue, physical disability, cognitive dysfunction, and pain—shows that on the surface their association with depression is mixed. If the literature is critically evaluated, however, the association between depression and three of these sequelae—fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and pain—shows consistently positive associations with studies that use adequate sample sizes and good methodology. The studies on physical disability and depression are evenly divided between those with null findings versus those with positive associations. A more critical analysis continues to show a mixed literature overall, which suggests the presence of moderator variables that may help to explain these inconsistencies. For fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and pain, though a critical analysis suggests a more consistent relationship for these variables with depression, the fact that such relationships are less robust suggests that they may be moderated by other variables.

Factors That May Moderate the Relationship Between Common MS Sequelae and Depression

Before turning to our discussion of possible factors that may moderate the relationship between common MS sequelae and depression, it is important to clarify our intent regarding moderator variables. According to Baron and Kenny (1986) moderation involves the interaction between two variables, one of which is an independent variable and the other the moderator, which significantly predict some outcome variable after the independent effects of the two predictors have been controlled. In the case of our proposed model, each of the common MS sequelae in our model would be considered independent variables, whereas the proposed moderator variables would be the moderators. Any interaction between one of the common MS sequelae and a moderator variable could theoretically lead to depression if the interaction between the severity of the MS sequelae and a given moderator variable was great enough. Generally, more interactions between the common MS sequelae and the moderators are theorized to lead to greater risk for depression. Based upon the research literature, the common MS sequelae may or may not significantly predict depression directly. Regardless, their interaction with the moderator variables is predicted to elevate risk for depression.

It could be argued that the variables we identify as potential moderators would be better conceptualized as mediators. The distinction between moderation and mediation is important. According to Baron and Kenny (Baron & Kenny, 1986) moderation occurs when one variable (the moderator) affects the direction or intensity of the relation between a second (independent) variable and a third (dependent) variable. In contrast, mediation occurs when one variable (the mediator) explains the relationship between a second (independent) and third (dependent) variable. Although a mediational model may be possible in some instances, we characterize our model as predominantly moderational for two reasons. First, in the case of mediation, both the independent variable and the mediator are expected to significantly and consistently predict the dependent variable. However, at least one of the common MS sequelae that we propose as an independent variable fails to meet this requirement, and the extent to which the other three sequelae meet it is debatable. Critical evaluation of the literature on the relationship between physical disability and depression shows that physical disability (the independent variable) inconsistently predicts depression (the dependent variable), a pattern of results that favors a moderational rather than mediational model. Critical analysis of the relationship between the other three MS sequelae and depression shows that some of the relationships may be more consistent than a cursory examination of the literature makes them appear. Although it is possible that the relationship between these three sequelae—fatigue, pain, or cognitive dysfunction—and depression could be mediated by the variables we are proposing as moderators, inconsistencies in the literature appear when sample sizes and methodological parameters are not ideal. These inconsistencies suggest that the relationships are not robust and may best be explained when moderators are considered, making a mediation model less appealing.

A second reason that we mostly focus on moderation in our model is that there are several studies in the MS literature, which we describe below, that show evidence for significant interactions (i.e., moderation) between the common MS sequelae we have identified and the moderators in predicting depression. Although not all of the proposed moderational relationships have been empirically tested or validated in the MS literature, enough have to warrant further theorizing on other possible moderating relationships. We hope that our proposed model will lead to other empirical tests of moderational relationships, with the additional suggestion that possible mediational relationships could still be explored.

We now review evidence pertaining to proposed moderators in the model. The proposed moderators represent factors related to either the external circumstances of individuals with MS or to their internal representation of those circumstances. These variables have been shown to have a more consistent relationship with depression in MS (see Figure 3). The specific studies summarized by this section are presented in more detail in Table 2.

Fig. 3. Model of depression in MS: Possible moderators predict depression.

Stress/negative life events/stress appraisal

Most studies on stress and depression in MS have been examined in the context of coping. Whether studies measure either general stress or MS-specific stress, the association between stressful events and depression is consistent in the literature. As shown in Table 2, all eight studies reported some positive associations between depression and stress in MS. One study reported small effect size (Kneebone & Dunmore, 2004), two reported moderate (Devins et al., 1996; McCabe & de Judicibus, 2005), two large (Aikens et al., 1997; Gilchrist & Creed, 1994), one small and moderate (Pakenham, 1999), and for two (Patten et al., 2000; Ron & Logsdail, 1989) it was not possible to determine effect size. Although the studies in this section were of mixed quality, positive findings always emerged, suggesting that the relationship between depression and stress in MS is a robust one and likely of moderate to large effect size.

Coping

Coping and stress/hassles are commonly linked in the coping literature, because coping strategies are typically used in response to stressful events. Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) stress and coping model has been commonly applied to the chronic illness literature in general, as well as to MS. According to this model, a central factor moderating the relationship between stress and adjustment is coping (Pakenham, 1999). More specifically, coping strategies that patients use appear to put them at greater or lesser risk for depression.

Coping has been conceptualized in different ways. Traditionally, theorists have identified two broad ways of coping with stressors: Problem-focused and emotion-focused. Problem-focused strategies aim to alter the source of stress, whereas emotion-focused strategies attempt to reduce the emotional distress elicited by a situation (Lazarus, 1993). As Table 2 illustrates, high levels of depression are typically associated with emotion-focused coping whereas low levels of depression are associated with problem-focused coping in MS.

Some investigators have suggested that these broad categories of coping are not unitary constructs and have developed alternative ways of conceptualizing coping. Carver and colleagues (1989) identified active and avoidance coping scales. Greater use of avoidance coping strategies and less use of active coping strategies have been shown to be associated with higher levels of depression symptoms (Arnett et al., 2002). Longitudinally, greater use of active coping strategies has been associated with improved mood in MS patients over a 3-year period, whereas decreased use of such strategies is associated with worsening mood (Arnett & Randolph, 2006).

Despite the unpredictability of MS, most studies have found that emotion-focused and avoidant coping strategies are consistently positively associated with depression, whereas problem-focused and active coping strategies are inversely related to depression (see Table 2).

Social Support/Psychosocial Factors

Outside the MS literature, Sarason and colleagues (1983) have noted that individuals with fewer social supports and/or greater dissatisfaction with those supports are more likely to experience negative affect. Consistent with this more general observation, the relationship between social support and depression in MS is very consistent. Although only a few studies have examined this relationship, they have shown that patients with better social support are less likely to be depressed than patients with poorer social support (McIvor et al., 1984; Schwartz & Kraft, 1999).

Conceptions of self and illness

Studies examining the association of conceptions of the self and illness with depression in MS are relatively few in number. One way of thinking about conceptions of the self and others is via cognitive schemas. Cognitive schemas represent ways in which we organize our understanding of ourselves, our relations with others, and our place in the world. Although most studies assessing cognitive schema in MS have used self-report measures, performance-based measures can also be used. In fact, performance-based measures may avoid the shared method variance that can lead to possible correlations between self-report measures of cognitive schema and self-report measures of depression. A recent study used a performance based measure, the affective reading span task, to quantify negative cognitive schema in a group of MS patients and found that depressed MS patients showed evidence of a negative bias compared with nondepressed MS patients (Bruce & Arnett, 2005).

Using self-report measures, negative cognitive schema have been operationalized in a variety of ways, including lower self-efficacy (Shnek et al., 1995), internal and global attributions of negative life events (Kneebone & Dunmore, 2004), perception of disability and illness variables related to MS (Smith & Young, 2000), and negative outcome expectancies and unrealistic thinking (Fournier et al., 1999). The finding that efficacy expectancies and outcome expectancies predicted depression via emotion-oriented coping (Fournier et al., 1999) is one of the few mediational findings reported in this literature. In this model, MS patients with negative expectancies of their ability to cope and expectations of negative outcomes are more likely to use emotion-oriented coping that, in turn, leads to depression.

Negative cognitive schema can also be examined by looking at patients' representations of their illness. Guided by a model of illness representation developed by Leventhal and colleagues (1984), Jopson and Moss-Morris (2003) evaluated the role of illness representations in both general adjustment and depression in MS. Even after controlling for illness severity, beliefs in the serious consequences of the illness, in poor personal control, and in psychological causes of the illness, all significantly predicted depression.

Evers and colleagues (2001) note that, when faced with the long-term stress of a chronic disease like MS, cognitive schema can be re-evaluated in at least three ways: (a) To emphasize the negative meaning of the event (e.g., helplessness, hopelessness); (b) to diminish the aversive meaning of the event (e.g., acceptance); and (c) to add a positive meaning to the event (e.g., benefit finding). In their sample of MS patients, they found that helplessness was directly correlated, and acceptance and perceived benefits inversely correlated, with negative mood. Evers and colleagues' study also underscores the potential importance of positive, as well as negative, cognitions in relation to MS patients' risk for depression.

To summarize, stress and stress appraisal, coping variables, social support, and conceptions of the self and illness all appear to be consistently associated with depression in MS. But how do these moderating variables impact the relationship between depression and the common MS sequelae? A handful of studies have examined the moderating effect of coping but, to our knowledge, only two studies have examined conceptions of the self and illness (in the form of cognitive schemas) and none have examined social support as possible moderators in the relationship between depression and the sequelae. What follows is a review of the few studies that have examined these proposed moderator variables. More detail on each study can be found in Table 2 and Figure 4. Note in Figure 4 that, in the interest of clarity, most of the interactions represented are those that have empirical support in the literature with at least one study; a few hypothetical interactions are also presented. It is assumed, however, that an interaction between any of the common MS sequelae and any of the moderator variables can lead to depression. Another important assumption is that interactions between moderators can also predict depression, and two areas where this has been empirically supported are discussed below and also represented in the model in Figure 4 with intersecting arrows.

Fig. 4. Model of depression in MS: Possible moderators interact with common MS sequelae to predict depression. Note. The differently colored arrows convey the category of variable in this figure: Green represents MS disease factors and blue represents common MS sequelae. The red arrows represent possible moderators. Note that the risk for depression either decreases or increases with the occurrence of the moderating variables in the right-hand circle depending upon whether they are in the adaptive or the maladaptive direction, as indicated by the upward and downward arrows underneath the right-hand circle. Empirically supported interactions between moderating variables and common MS sequelae, or between proposed moderators, are represented by pink lines from each variable intersecting at a small pink circle with an arrow leading to depression. A few hypothesized, but as yet untested, interactions between moderating variables and common MS sequelae, or between proposed moderators, are represented by orange lines from each variable intersecting at a small orange circle with an arrow leading to depression. Other possible interactions based upon the model could be derived as well

Studies Examining Moderating Variables of Common MS Sequelae

Cognitive dysfunction and coping

Using Carver and colleagues' COPE (1989) to measure active and avoidant coping strategies, we found that both coping strategies significantly moderated the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and depression (Arnett et al., 2002). Specifically, MS patients with cognitive difficulties were only at risk for depression if they used high levels of avoidance coping or low levels of active coping.

Pain and conceptions of the self and illness

In a recent study (Bruce et al., 2007), we used the affective reading span task mentioned earlier to examine whether affective memory biases moderated the relationship between pain and depression in MS. The interaction of negative bias and pain significantly predicted variance in depression. Specifically, patients with negative biases experienced more depressive symptoms as pain increased. Additionally, patients with positive biases experienced fewer depressive symptoms as pain increased. Our results highlighted both the potentially adverse effects of negative cognitive bias and the potentially protective effects of a positive cognitive bias.

Physical disability and coping

Lynch and colleagues (2001) reported that coping did not moderate the significant relationship they found between disability and depression. However, they examined the interaction variable of coping and physical disability only after they had first entered individual predictors for coping and physical disability, along with measures of hope and illness uncertainty. All of these variables had significant zero-order correlations with depression scores, enough to account for 40% of the variance when entered into a simultaneous regression analysis, leaving little variance to be accounted for by interaction variables. A more focused approach might have revealed a more significant moderating influence of coping on the relationship between disability and depression in MS.

Taking a different tack, Mohr and colleagues (1997) suggested that level of physical disability moderated the relationship between coping and depression in MS. They found significant interactions between physical disability and two types of active coping in predicting depression. However, given the cross-sectional nature of these data, their findings could just as easily suggest coping as a moderator of physical disability. The findings from this study are at least consistent with the notion that coping moderates the relationship between disability and depression.

To review, a few studies have empirically examined the moderators in the proposed model in relation to the common MS sequelae and depression. Evidence supports some of the proposed relationships—for example, coping as a moderator of physical disability or cognitive dysfunction, and conceptions of the self and illness as a moderator of pain—but the data are admittedly sparse at this point. Although much of this aspect of the model is speculative and remains to be tested, it is designed to provide a theoretical framework for future work.

Studies Examining Interactions Between Moderators

Although most of the model focuses on the moderator variables influencing the outcome of common MS sequelae, moderator variables can also interact with one another to predict depression. There is some empirical evidence in the literature that this occurs for at least two of the possible interactions.

Stress and coping

Pakenham (1999) examined a model of stress, stress appraisal, and coping in MS. He found that stress appraisal interacted with emotion-focused coping to significantly predict distress. Specifically, patients appraising high levels of stress and using emotion-focused coping showed more distress.

In another study, Pakenham (2005) examined benefit-finding coping as a moderator of stress appraisal and adjustment and reported a significant interaction. Patients reporting high benefit finding in the context of high stress appraisals reported lower distress, whereas those reporting low benefit finding in the context of high stress appraisals reported higher distress.

One caveat to this work is that, Pakenham used a measure which includes a subscale for depression but is not specific to depression. Because he did not analyze the depression subscale specifically, he reported broad-based distress rather than depression. Nonetheless, we included the results of these two studies because they are among the few in the MS literature that examine the interaction of stress and coping in predicting psychological adjustment and distress.

Stress and conceptions of the self and illness

Kneebone and Dunmore (2004) examined the possibility that negative cognitive schema, as reflected in attributional style, moderate the relationship between negative life events (i.e., stress) and depression in MS. Consistent with Abramson and colleagues' view that negative life events represent the beginning of a causal chain that leads to a hopelessness type of depression (Abramson et al., 1989), Kneebone and Dunmore found that negative life events—both general negative events and those specific to MS—interacted significantly with global negative attributions in predicting depression in their MS sample. More specifically, they found that negative life events predicted depression when global attributions for negative events were high but not when global attributions for negative events were low.

Congruent with the above study, we (Beeney & Arnett, 2008) found that cognitive schema, measured using a performance-based measure of memory bias to avoid same method bias, moderated the relationship between stress appraisal and depression in MS. Similarly to Kneebone and Dunmore, we found that MS patients' reports of high amounts of stressful events relative to uplifting events were associated with depression only when patients evidenced a negative memory bias.

How the Model Works

We now present a detailed explanation of how the model might work in light of the empirical evidence described above (see Figure 4). Concomitant and subsequent to the onset of MS, patients experience disease-related changes. These changes represent a distal level of risk for depression. Although they play a central role in the model, such changes do not explain all of the variance in depression; hence, the need for other explanatory factors.

Arrows lead from disease-related changes to fatigue, pain, cognitive dysfunction, and physical disability, because evidence has shown that these changes are associated with such symptoms. Common MS sequelae can further increase risk for depression in MS. The inconsistency or lack of robustness of the relationship between these common MS sequelae and depression, however, suggests that the extent to which these factors increase the risk for depression is moderated by other variables, such as stress, coping, social support, and conceptions of the self and illness.

When the influence of these moderator variables is in the adaptive direction, then the common MS sequelae are less likely to lead to depression. When the influence of these variables is in the maladaptive direction, the common MS sequelae are more likely to lead to depression. For example, good social support, positive conceptions of the self and illness, higher levels of problem-focused or active coping, and lower levels of emotion-focused or avoidance coping have been consistently associated with reduced depression in MS. In contrast, poor social support, negative conceptions of the self and illness, lower levels of problem-focused or active coping, and higher levels of emotion-focused or avoidance coping have been associated with increased depression.

Some of the interactions between common MS sequelae and the proposed moderators which can influence depression in MS have been supported by at least one study in the literature. These include physical disability and coping, cognitive dysfunction and coping, and pain and conceptions of the self and illness. At least two studies support the influence of interactions between proposed moderators, including stress and coping as well as stress and conceptions of the self and illness. The majority of the proposed interactions, however, whether between common MS sequelae and proposed moderators or between two moderating variables, have not been empirically tested. We propose them here because, in the case of the four common MS sequelae, inconsistent or lack of robust relationships have been reported in the empirical literature. As noted, such inconsistent or weak relationships between variables in a literature suggest the presence of moderators.

In MS-related depression, common MS sequelae may be influenced by both external circumstances (e.g., stressful events or social support) as well as internal representations of those external circumstances (e.g., coping style, conceptions of self and illness). It further suggests that external circumstances can themselves be affected by internal representations of those circumstances. Coping and conceptions of the self and illness have proved to be moderators for some of the common MS sequelae already (i.e., physical disability, cognitive dysfunction, and pain) in relation to depression, and so we reasoned that they might be likely candidates for moderators of the other variable, namely fatigue. Regarding the other proposed moderators, stress and social support, there are as yet no empirical studies showing that they moderate any of the common MS sequelae in relation to depression. Nonetheless, we identified both variables as potential moderators based upon their consistent relationship with depression in the MS literature as well as the consideration that high levels of stress or poor social support might magnify the effects of MS symptomatology. Similarly, coping and conceptions of the self and illness have proved to interact with other proposed moderators already (i.e., stress) in MS-related depression, and so we reasoned that other interactions between proposed moderators—such as stress and social support, coping and social support, or coping and conceptions of self and illness—might influence depression in MS as well.

In the model, any of the proposed interactions are theorized to be sufficient to lead to depression. This conclusion is based upon evidence from several individual studies showing that one interaction can be a significant predictor of depression. With that said, it is further proposed that individuals who have more extensive and severe common MS sequelae, along with moderator variables in the maladaptive direction, are going to be at greatest risk for depression. In sum, the interaction of all these variables is not necessary for depression to result, as even one interaction is sufficient. However, the more interactions that are present, the greater the risk for depression.

The model is not intended to be linear and unidirectional. We assume that depression feeds back to the moderator variables and possibly to other variables as well, including fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and pain. By design, the time course of risk is not specified. Given the variability of symptomatology in most MS patients, common sequelae can appear at any time during the disease course. The model is also neutral with regard to how the individual comes to have low levels of social support, negative conceptions of the self and illness, or maladaptive coping. It simply states that if these variables are present within individuals who experience one or more of the common MS sequelae, then these common sequelae will more likely be associated with depression. The degree to which the sequelae are present increases the risk for depression in MS. In turn, the likelihood that these sequelae get manifested in depression is importantly influenced by the presence of the proposed moderators.

Possible testable hypotheses from the model can range from simple two-factor associations to complex, multi-factor interactions. For example, more studies could be conducted to bolster the few to date showing an association between pain and depression, social support and depression, or conceptions of the self and illness with depression. Hypothesized interactions between common MS sequelae and proposed moderators that remain to be demonstrated include those between fatigue and coping or fatigue and conceptions of self and illness in relation to depression. More complex interactions that might significantly predict depression in MS which have yet to be investigated include predictions that physical disability will interact with conceptions of self and illness, cognitive dysfunction will interact with social support, pain will interact with coping, and stress will interact with social support. These proposed hypotheses do not represent an exhaustive list of the possible associations and interactions between common MS sequelae, possible moderators, and depression in MS that could be tested; a more comprehensive list of possible combinations can be derived from Figure 4.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Depression is highly prevalent in MS and is generally stable longitudinally. It is associated with disease-related changes as well as with several common disease sequelae, all of which have significant negative consequences for patients' quality of life. Although depression in MS develops after disease onset, research suggests that it is very treatable. Because of the stability of depression in MS and the fact that it is unlikely to remit without treatment, it can have devastating long-term consequences for patients' day-to-day functioning.

The present review of the research literature was conducted to provide an overview of key factors associated with depression in MS and to present a theoretical model that integrates these key factors. An attempt was also made to identify gaps in the empirical literature. Although some aspects of the model are supported by research, many aspects remain speculative and in need of further testing. This is especially true for the interaction between the common sequelae and the moderator variables in predicting depression in MS. Future research is clearly necessary to evaluate the validity of these relationships.

Another important limitation is that the proposed model is largely based on cross-sectional data. Although causal relationships are proposed in the model, the causal nature of the relationships remains unclear. Additionally, many of the hypothesized relationships may be reciprocal rather than unidirectional. While future cross-sectional research to test these hypothesized relationships is important, longitudinal data would provide a more powerful test of how these relationships in MS evolve over time.

Depression has been intensively studied in MS over the past 20–25 years because of its high prevalence, implications for quality of life, and possibly its influence on disease progression. Despite the publication of numerous excellent empirical papers on this topic, theoretical work that attempts to integrate the range of research findings into a comprehensive explanatory model is scarce. The present study has taken a step toward incorporating existing empirical work into a coherent, testable, theoretical model of depression in MS that we hope will provide a better understanding of past work as well as directions for future research. Ultimately, we hope that this review and theoretical model will help clinicians and researchers to understand the multitude of factors that are associated with depression in MS, leading to better care for patients suffering from this devastating disease.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are no sources of financial or other relationships that could be interpreted as a conflict of interest affecting this manuscript and there are no sources of financial support for this manuscript. Information in this manuscript and the manuscript itself has never been published either electronically or in print. Special thanks to Jeffrey Arnett and Frank Hillary, both of whom provided invaluable input on earlier drafts of this article. Finally, we express our gratitude to the MS participants and their significant others who have generously contributed their time in our research studies over the years to helping us better understand the nature of multiple sclerosis.