Cognitive problems in childhood MS

Cognitive impairment in childhood MS shows you how devastating the shredder really is. #MSBlog #MSResearch 

"The following article is a stark reminder of how devastating MS can be in children with 69% having cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment was particularly problematic in children who also had a psychiatric disorder. I suspect children have a problem dealing with  the shredder as their brains are still developing. To get on top of this problem we really have to be more active in managing and treating childhood MS and hopefully preventing it in the future."


Epub: Weisbrot et al. Psychiatric diagnoses and cognitive impairment in pediatric multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2013 Sep 26.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric MS represents approximately 5% of the MS population; information regarding clinical features is slowly accumulating. Cognitive and psychiatric impairments frequently occur, but remain poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES: To describe psychiatric diagnoses among children with MS referred for psychiatric assessment and their relation to cognitive impairment.

METHODS: 45 paediatric MSers (aged 8 to 17 years) were referred for outpatient psychiatric evaluation including a psychiatric interview (K-SADS), a clinician-based global assessment of functioning (Children's Global Assessment Scale, CGAS), a neurologic examination including the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and a neuropsychological test battery.

RESULTS: The most common categories of psychiatric diagnoses were anxiety disorders (n=15), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, n=12), and mood disorders (n=11). Cognitive impairment was classified in 20/25 (80%) of MSers meeting criteria for a psychiatric disorder versus 11/20 (55%) of those without psychiatric disorder (p=0.08). Those diagnosed with anxiety or mood disorder had the highest frequency of cognitive impairment, with a significantly higher rate when compared with those with psychiatric diagnoses in other categories (p=0.05)

CONCLUSIONS: A variety of psychiatric diagnoses can occur in children with pediatric MS. Many of these children also had cognitive impairment, particularly those in the mood and anxiety groups.

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