Depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis patients: The role of genetic variability of interleukin 1β

Background Mood disorders, as depression and anxiety, are frequent in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. High pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (e.g. IL-1β) have been reported in depressed individuals. Objective We aimed to investigate the role of the rs16944 (IL-1β-511 C>T) polymorphism in the development of anxiety and depression symptoms in a Portuguese cohort of MS patients. Methods 393 MS patients answered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at T1. This questionnaire was reapplied to a subgroup of 175 MS patients approximately three years later (T2). HADS cut-off scores for anxiety and depression were respectively ≥11 and ≥8. Results At T1, anxiety was found in 106 MS patients (27.0%) and 11 controls (16.7%); whereas depression was identified in 116 (29.5%) MS patients and 9 controls (13.6%). Persistent anxiety and depression were respectively recorded in 12% and 20% of MS patients. The rs16944TT genotype was found to be a susceptibility factor for the occurrence of depression at T1 (OR = 3.16, p=0.002) and the development of persistent depression (OR = 5.63, p=0.003) in MS. Conclusion Study results support the hypothesis that inflammation is a significant factor in psychopathology development.