Thirty multiple sclerosis patients were assessed: 15 with predominantly
cerebral involvement of their demyelinating disease and 15 with
predominantly spinal cord and cerebellar involvement. The groups were
matched with regard to age, duration of illness, and Kurtzke disability
scores. Assessment included neuropsychological testing, the Beck Depression
Inventory, and a psychiatric interview patterned after the Schedule for
Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. A group of normal volunteers served
as controls for the neuropsychological testing. There were significantly
more major depressive episodes in the cerebral group, as assessed by the
patients' histories and by interview, and there was a trend toward more
depressive symptoms in this group, as measured by the Beck inventory.
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