Abolfazl Hosseinnataj; Roya Nikbakht; Seyed Nouraddin Mousavinasab; Sharareh Eskandarieh; Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Seyed Mohammad Baghbanian
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 26 March 2023
Abstract
Background: It may take a long time to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) since the emergence of primary symptoms. This study aimed to use count regression models to compare their fit and to identify factors affecting delay in the diagnosis of MS.Methods: Data were collected from the Nationwide MS Registry ...
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Background: It may take a long time to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) since the emergence of primary symptoms. This study aimed to use count regression models to compare their fit and to identify factors affecting delay in the diagnosis of MS.Methods: Data were collected from the Nationwide MS Registry of Iran (NMSRI) for Mazandaran Province, Iran, using census sampling until April 2022. The four models of Poisson regression, negative binomial (NB) regression, zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) regression, and zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression were used in this study.Results: In this study on 2894 patients, 74.0% were women, and 8.5% had a family history of MS. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the patients’ age was 34.96 ± 9.41 years, and the mean delay in diagnosis was 12.32 ± 33.26 months, with a median of 0 (Q1-Q3: 0-9). The NB regression model showed the best performance, and factors, including a history of hospitalization and the year of symptom onset, had significant effects on a delayed diagnosis. Besides, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was significantly different before and after 2017; it was also associated with sex, type of MS, and history of hospitalization.Conclusion: The mean diagnostic delay and the mean age of MS diagnosis are critical in Mazandaran Province. Patients with MS develop the disease at an early age and are diagnosed with a long delay. The time of symptom onset is a significant factor in the diagnosis of MS, and in recent years, there have been improvements in the diagnostic process.
Mohammad Amin Omrani; Asghar Bayati; Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Sharareh Eskandarieh
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 16 April 2023
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease with a high burden and disability. There are reports of various medications’ side effects on patients with MS. The aim of the study is to determine the characteristics and medicine usage distribution among patients with MS in Chaharmahal ...
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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease with a high burden and disability. There are reports of various medications’ side effects on patients with MS. The aim of the study is to determine the characteristics and medicine usage distribution among patients with MS in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province in Iran.Methods: This registry-based cross-sectional study was performed among MS cases in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. The epidemiological data were collected from the nationwide MS registry of Iran (NMSRI) from 2019 to 2022. The information collected included age, sex, family history, type of MS, age at MS onset and diagnosis, MS symptoms, physical condition, and history of medication use. All tests were performed at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS software.Results: A total of 416 patients included in this study. Among them, 325 individuals (78%) were women with mean ± standard deviation (SD) of age of 37.35 ± 8.51 years. No significant difference was observed between men and women in terms of age, type of MS disease, family history of MS, and physical condition (P > 0.05). The results showed that the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score in female patients (1.41) was different from the EDSS score in male patients (1.77) (P < 0.05). Most of the patients often used interferon beta (IFN-β).Conclusion: The results provided new insight into the epidemiology and medicine patterns of patients with MS in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. The epidemiological situation of MS in this province is similar to other parts of Iran. Planning according to national programs is suggested for the management and control of MS.
Fereshteh Ghadiri; Elnaz Asadollahzadeh; Zahra Ebadi; Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Amirreza Azimi; Samira Navardi; Hora Heidari; Zohreh Abna; Marzieh Aboutorabi; Iman Adibi; Seyed Mohammad Baghbanian; Sepideh Paybast; Maryam Poursadeghfard; Samaneh Hosseini; Sareh Shahmohammadi; Mehran Ghaffari; Hamidreza Ghalyanchi-Langroodi; Masoud Ghiasian; Hoda Kamali; Ebrahim Kouchaki; Farzad Mehrabi; Ehsan Mohammadianinejad; Mohammad Ali Nahayati; Abdorreza Naser Moghadasi
Volume 22, Issue 1 , January 2023, , Pages 1-7
Abstract
Background: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their physicians recognize cognitive retention as an important desired outcome of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). In this study, we attempted to gather the opinions of Iranian MS experts regarding the treatment approach toward clinical ...
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Background: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their physicians recognize cognitive retention as an important desired outcome of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). In this study, we attempted to gather the opinions of Iranian MS experts regarding the treatment approach toward clinical cases with different physical and cognitive conditions.Methods: Opinions of 20 MS specialists regarding the best approach to 6 case scenarios (with different clinical, cognitive, and imaging characteristics) were gathered via a form.Results: The estimated kappa of 0.16 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.159-0.163; P < 0.001] suggested a poor degree of agreement on the treatment choice among the professionals.Conclusion: Although most specialists agreed with treatment escalation in cases with cognitive impairment, there was no general agreement. Furthermore, there was not enough clinical evidence in the literature to develop consensus guidelines on the matter.
Niloofar Jahromi; Sharareh Eskandarieh; Nazanin Maleki; Narges Sistany-Allahabadi; Mohammad Ali Sahraian
Volume 22, Issue 1 , January 2023, , Pages 16-22
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating, non-traumatic, neurological disorder in young adults and can reduce quality of life (QoL) by interfering with the ability to work, leisure activities, and routine living tasks. Various studies have shown the dissatisfaction of people with MS in different ...
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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating, non-traumatic, neurological disorder in young adults and can reduce quality of life (QoL) by interfering with the ability to work, leisure activities, and routine living tasks. Various studies have shown the dissatisfaction of people with MS in different areas of care services. Regarding the patients' dissatisfaction with care services, in this study, we sought to identify the care challenges of MS patients in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016-2018 using a researcher-made questionnaire (designed by MS Specialists in an MS research center). The questionnaire examines the care challenges in four areas: 1) costs of medication, hospitalization, and rehabilitation services, 2) family support, insurance system, and job protection, 3) access to transportation system and treatment team, 4) quality of the provided care and services.Results: Completed questionnaires were received from 945 respondents. The mean age of responders was 35.92 years. In total, 731 (77.8) participants were women and 208 (22.2) were men. Academic education was reported among 615 (65.3) participants and 367 (40.2) were employed during the study, while 99 (10.5) of the subjects were not able to walk a minimum of 20 meters. The prioritization of care services challenges is as follows: the cost of pharmaceutical services (49.1), lack of telephone counseling (47.4), uninsured home rehabilitation (44.7), lack of qualified care centers (41.2), and rehabilitation costs (40.2).Conclusion: We found that patients who could not walk at least 20 meters and unemployed individuals had more problems and lower QoL. The patients who had non-academic education had more challenges with the cost of medication, transportation, and lack of familial support. This study shows the challenges of MS patients in receiving health care in Iran that vary in age, education, employment, and ability to walk. As the abovementioned challenges are of great importance in determining the QoL of people with MS, an appropriate solution is provided in this study to overcome these challenges.
Sharareh Eskandarieh; Saeideh Ayoubi; Mohammad Ali Sahraian
Volume 22, Issue 1 , January 2023, , Pages 63-64
Fereshteh Ghadiri; Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Amirreza Azimi; Abdorreza Naser Moghadasi
Volume 21, Issue 3 , July 2022, , Pages 151-155
Abstract
Background: Now that the majority of the population has been immunized with two-dose vaccines, debates over the third booster dose have been raised. We studied the viewpoint of cases with multiple sclerosis (MS) on this matter.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a google form containing questions about ...
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Background: Now that the majority of the population has been immunized with two-dose vaccines, debates over the third booster dose have been raised. We studied the viewpoint of cases with multiple sclerosis (MS) on this matter.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a google form containing questions about participants’ characteristics, the history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and vaccination, and opinions on the third dose was designed.Results: Of 1067 responders, only 16 (1.5%) were not vaccinated at all. The most used vaccine type was Sinopharm BBIBP COVID-19 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) (n = 1002, 93.9%). Generally, 58 (5.4%) cases were hospitalized due to COVID-19. Of those with full vaccination, 134 (13.3%) got COVID-19 infection after the second dose. Only 13 participants (1%) did not agree with the third dose, while 564 (53.0%) believed that a booster dose was needed. Of all, 488 (45.7%) declared that they did not have a final idea and would follow the instructions by the experts. A significant association was found between not receiving the first two doses and not believing in the third dose (P = 0.001). 692 patients declared their reasoning for the importance of the third dose. All the cases who thought the administered vaccine was not efficient enough had received Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV. Those who got infected after full vaccination were more uncertain about the efficacy of the vaccine [odds ratio (OR): 2.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6-4.2].Conclusion: It seems that the majority of the Iranian patients with MS expect the authorities to administer a third booster dose, especially if scientifically validated.
Sharareh Eskandarieh; Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Abdorreza Naser Moghadasi
Abstract
Background: The national multiple sclerosis (MS) registry is aimed at monitoring and improving quality of care and providing feedback to improve health outcomes by systematic recording of data. In 2018, the nationwide MS registry of Iran (NMSRI) was initiated for collecting epidemiological data and information ...
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Background: The national multiple sclerosis (MS) registry is aimed at monitoring and improving quality of care and providing feedback to improve health outcomes by systematic recording of data. In 2018, the nationwide MS registry of Iran (NMSRI) was initiated for collecting epidemiological data and information on health care provision for patients with MS. The aim of the current study was to introduce the role of implementing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) scale-up registry protocol in NMSRI and arrange the national MS generality with information obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The NMSRI group set up a program with crucial elements to collect the data of patients with MS who developed COVID-19. All MS cases with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. New elements were considered to be added into the dataset, including demographic characteristics, definite diagnosis of COVID-19 and its symptoms, history of comorbidities, history of medications and hospitalization, changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and infection outcomes. Results: The COVID-19 data collection program was designed in NMSRI to collect data of MS cases with COVID-19 infection. The data collection protocol was explained to neurologists through an online training workshop. To the date of the study, 21 centers from 17 provinces of Iran were involved in the COVID-19 databases promoting NMSRI and 612 participants were registered successfully. Conclusion: We extended an agreement on data collection and developed it in NMSRI with various contributors to discover a critical need for COVID-19 awareness and monitor clinical training in MS.
Nayyereh Ayati; Lora Fleifel; Shahdak Sharifi; Mohammad Sahraian; Shekoufeh Nikfar
Abstract
Background: Cladribine tablets are the foremost oral immune-reconstitution therapy for high disease activity relapsing multiple sclerosis (HDA-RMS). We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of cladribine tablets compared to natalizumab in patients with HDA-RMS in Iran. Methods: A 5-year cohort-based ...
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Background: Cladribine tablets are the foremost oral immune-reconstitution therapy for high disease activity relapsing multiple sclerosis (HDA-RMS). We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of cladribine tablets compared to natalizumab in patients with HDA-RMS in Iran. Methods: A 5-year cohort-based Markov model was developed with 11 expanded disability status score (EDSS) health states, including patients with HDA-RMS as on and off-treatment. All costs were identified from the literature and expert opinion and were measured in Iranian Rial rates, changed to the 2020 USD rate and were discounted by 7.2%. Quality adjusted life years (QALY), discounted by 3.5%, and life years gained (LYG) were adopted to measure efficacy. The final results were presented as incremental cost-effectiveness ratio that was compared to a national willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of 1 to 3 gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (D/PSA) were employed to evaluate uncertainty. Results: Cladribine tablets dominated natalizumab and yielded 6,607 USD cost-saving and 0.003 additional QALYs per patient. LYG was comparable. The main cost component was drug acquisition cost in both arms. DSA indicated the sensitivity of the results to the cost discount rates and also the patients’ body weight; while they were less sensitive to the main clinical variables. PSA indicated that cladribine tablets were cost-effective in Iran, with a probability of 57.5% and 58.6% at lower and higher limits of threshold, respectively. Conclusion: Cladribine tablets yielded higher QALYs and lower costs compared to natalizumab, in patients with HDA-RMS in Iran.
Nayyereh Ayati; Saeed Taheri; Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Shekoufeh Nikfar
Abstract
Background: The current study desired to conduct an economic analysis on ocrelizumab (OCR), a new relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) treatment strategy, in comparison to natalizumab (NTL), as one of the mostly-used disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in Iran. Methods: A 31-health-state Markov model, based ...
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Background: The current study desired to conduct an economic analysis on ocrelizumab (OCR), a new relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) treatment strategy, in comparison to natalizumab (NTL), as one of the mostly-used disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in Iran. Methods: A 31-health-state Markov model, based on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), containing patients on- and off-treatment with annual cycles was developed. Baseline demographics and utility scores were extracted from OPERA 1 and 2 trials. Confirmed disability progression (CDP) and annualized relapse rates (ARR) were extracted from the literature. Mortality was calculated based on age, sex, and disease state. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and life years gained (LYG) were measurements of efficacy. Direct and indirect costs were identified and calculated based on the national book of tariffs in Iranian Rial (IRR) rates, then converted to the 2020 United States Dollar (USD). Final results were reported in terms of incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), which showed extra costs required for one additional QALY. Robustness of the model was analyzed through deterministic sensitivity analysis (DSA) and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA). Results: OCR dominated NTL and was associated with cost-savings of 6971 USD, longer LYG (0.004), and higher QALYs (0.27). Although OCR had higher acquisition costs, which was the main component in both comparator arms, it was associated with lower total costs, due to lower disability progression and productivity loss. Results remained robust in DSA and PSA (93.5% cost-effectiveness in Iran’s pharmacoeconomic threshold, 2709 USD). Conclusion: Results suggested that OCR was a more cost-effective option than NTL for the treatment of patients with RMS in Iran.
Elham Manouchehri; Morteza Saeedi; Khadijeh Mirzaei-Najmabadi
Abstract
Background: In chronic illnesses, sexual dysfunction (SD) is one of the most prevalent complaints. Sexual self-efficacy (SSE) is an individual’s beliefs about his/her ability to perform an effective sexual function and be favorable to their partner. The aim of the present study was to assess SSE ...
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Background: In chronic illnesses, sexual dysfunction (SD) is one of the most prevalent complaints. Sexual self-efficacy (SSE) is an individual’s beliefs about his/her ability to perform an effective sexual function and be favorable to their partner. The aim of the present study was to assess SSE and sexual function in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2019 on 260 married women referring to the MS clinic and MS society of Khorasan-Razavi in Mashhad, Iran. The research population was selected using convenience sampling. The Sexual Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ), Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-19 (MSISQ-19), and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were completed by the participants who had the inclusion criteria. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient in SPSS software. Results: The participants had a mean age of 35.2 ± 8.4 years and their mean duration of MS was 4.46 ± 3.71 years. The findings showed a negative correlation between SSE and SD (r = -0.606; P = 0.001) and a positive correlation between SSE and sexual function (r = 0.644; P = 0.001). Moreover, MSISQ-19 and FSFI scores supported each other (r = -0.675; P = 0.001). Conclusion: SD is prevalent among women with MS. Moreover, sexual function is substantially associated with SSE in these women.
Kiana Amani; Payam Sarraf; Alireza Abkhoo; Abbas Tafakhori; Farzad Fatehi; Sama Bitarafan; Elmira Agah; Mamak Shariat
Abstract
Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic neuromuscular disease, which physically and mentally affects the patient’s life, with depression being one of the most important psychological complications in these patients. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of depression and its associated ...
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Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic neuromuscular disease, which physically and mentally affects the patient’s life, with depression being one of the most important psychological complications in these patients. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of depression and its associated factors in a group of Iranian patients with MG. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which consecutive patients diagnosed with MG who referred to two referral neuromuscular clinics affiliated to the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, were evaluated for eligibility. Patients with a previously known psychiatric disorder and those with a family history of mental disorders were excluded. Eligible patients were interviewed and screened for depression through the administration of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Iranian version of Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Results: A total of 62 patients participated in this study. The total prevalence of depression according to the HDRS and BDI-II scores was 64.5% and 53.2%, respectively. The mild depression was the most frequent level of depression based on the HDRS (33.9%) and BDI-II (22.6%) scores. None of the variables, including age, sex, duration of the disease, and dosages of prednisolone, pyridostigmine, and azathioprine, were correlated with the severity of depression. The number of academic years was the only variable associated with the lower HDRS score (P = 0.037). Conclusion: Based on the current findings, depression was common among Iranian patients with MG. The severity of depressive symptoms was unrelated to age, sex, marital status, duration of the disease, the daily dosage of medications, and thymectomy status. Further investigations are needed to reveal the exact burden of depression in patients with MG and address the importance of preventive interventions for improving the quality of life (QOL) in these patients.
Mazyar Hashemilar; Saeid Charsouei; Darioush Savadi-Oskouei; Elyar Sadeghi-Hokmabadi; Mohammad Farzipour
Abstract
Background: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are manifested as paroxysmal alterations in motor, sensory, autonomic, and/or cognitive and behavioral signs and symptoms, without associated ictal epileptiform discharges. A misdiagnosis of PNES as epilepsy results in a prolonged and unnecessary ...
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Background: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are manifested as paroxysmal alterations in motor, sensory, autonomic, and/or cognitive and behavioral signs and symptoms, without associated ictal epileptiform discharges. A misdiagnosis of PNES as epilepsy results in a prolonged and unnecessary (antiepileptic) drug treatment and social and psychological stigma of epilepsy in these patients. This study aimed to determine the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and associated factors of PNES in hospitalized patients in the video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring (VEM) service of Razi Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 55 patients with a final diagnosis of PNES were selected from the patients referred to the VEM unit of Razi Hospital for the evaluation of epilepsy. The study was performed from May 2017 to June 2019. Patient information included demographic data and medical history (drug history, comorbidities, trauma, and family history). The clinical manifestations (semiology and duration of attacks) and EEG findings, as recorded by VEM during hospitalization, were collected. Results: 55 patients with PNES were studied with VEM, 27 (49.1%) of which were men, and 28 (50.9%) were women. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of age of the patients was 34.16 ± 12.64 years. No significant differences were observed in the semiology of PNES between men and women. Depression was the most common psychiatric comorbidity. Conclusion: The clinical manifestations of PNES in the present study were similar to those in most previous studies from other countries. The culture and sex of the patients did not seem to be a contributing factor in PNES semiology.
Omid Mirmosayyeb; Mahdi Barzegar; Nasim Nehzat; Soroush Najdaghi; Behnaz Ansari; Vahid Shaygannejad
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common autoimmune inflammatory disease in the central nervous system (CNS) without exact pathology. Environmental factors such as infections have a causal or protective role in MS. Helicobacter pylori (HP) is one of the infections in digestive diseases and previous ...
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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common autoimmune inflammatory disease in the central nervous system (CNS) without exact pathology. Environmental factors such as infections have a causal or protective role in MS. Helicobacter pylori (HP) is one of the infections in digestive diseases and previous studies reported controversial findings of this infection role in MS. So, we conducted this study to assess the frequency of HP infection in patients with MS in comparison to the healthy population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken between 2015 and 2019. 191 participants including 58 patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), 57 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 39 patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and 39 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were tested for the presence of HP immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies (Abs) in their serum sample. Results: The frequency of HP IgG seropositivity in patients with SPMS was significantly higher than patients with CIS [Odds ratio (OR): 6.333, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.522-15.906, P < 0.001], patients with RRMS (OR: 4.583, 95% CI: 1.842-11.407, P = 0.001), and HCs (OR: 8.485, 95% CI: 3.058-23.540, P < 0.001). We did not find a significant difference among other study groups regarding IgG seropositivity. No significant difference among groups regarding HP IgM seropositivity was evident. On univariate model, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score (OR: 1.038, 95% CI: 1.038-1.460, P = 0.017) and SPMS (OR: 4.583, 95% CI: 1.842-11.407, P = 0.001) were predictor for HP IgG seropositivity. On multivariate model, only SPMS had higher risk for HP IgG seropositivity compared to RRMS (OR: 5.554, 95% CI: 1.327-23.253, P = 0.019). We did not find a significant association between clinical and demographic variables with HP IgM seropositivity. Conclusion: Based on our findings, progressive MS and HP infection may have association. Further longitudinal studies with large sample size are needed to determine the role of HP infection in MS.
Hamid Nemati; Maryam Jalalipour; Shadi Niliyeh; Behjat Maneshian
Abstract
Background: Epilepsy is the most common pediatric neurologic disease accompanying with psychosocial delays causing a child’s isolation from the society. Developmental language delays are among the most common complaints of children with epilepsy. In the current study, verbal skills and expressive ...
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Background: Epilepsy is the most common pediatric neurologic disease accompanying with psychosocial delays causing a child’s isolation from the society. Developmental language delays are among the most common complaints of children with epilepsy. In the current study, verbal skills and expressive and receptive language development have been assessed in patients with epilepsy and compared with age-matched normal group. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 78 2-5-year-old children with epilepsy and 78 age-matched normal children referred to the outpatient clinic of Imam Reza affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, in 2017-2018. Demographic information of cases (age, age of onset, type of seizure, and number of consumed remedies) and controls was gathered. In order to assess study population’s verbal, receptive, and expressive language development, Newsha growth measurement test, a validated Persian version of verbal language development questionnaire, was utilized. Results: Comparison of children with epilepsy with normal controls showed a significant difference in spoken, expressive, and receptive language development between children with epilepsy and normal peers (P < 0.05). Spoken and receptive language developments were significantly in association with earlier age of onset, higher number of remedies received for seizure control, generalized type of seizures, and lacking of seizure control (P < 0.05). Expressive language development showed no association with type and control of seizures (P > 0.05) but had significant association with age of onset of epilepsy and number of remedies (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Assessment of verbal language development aspects among children with epilepsy showed a higher rate of delay among these children as compared with normal age-matched ones. Moreover, earlier age of onset, generalized type of seizures, higher number of consumed remedies, and poor seizure control were accompanied with higher and more severe speech and language delay.
Kaveh Shafiei; Mohammad Ali Shafa; Forugh Mohammadi; Ali Arabpour
Abstract
Background: Facial emotion recognition (FER) is a complex process, involving many brain circuits, including the basal ganglia that its motor involvement causes Parkinson's disease (PD). The previous studies used different tools for assessment of FER in PD. There is a discrepancy between the results of ...
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Background: Facial emotion recognition (FER) is a complex process, involving many brain circuits, including the basal ganglia that its motor involvement causes Parkinson's disease (PD). The previous studies used different tools for assessment of FER in PD. There is a discrepancy between the results of these studies due to different tools. In this study, we used a modified version of the Multimodal Emotion Recognition Test (MERT) to compare patients with PD to healthy controls (HCs). Methods: It was a cross-sectional study with primary objective of the mean percentage of the correct answers in MERT. Subjects had to name the emotions presented with different modalities. Results: 30 subjects were recruited and assessed in each group. The mean total MERT score was significantly lower in subjects with PD compared to HCs (35.0% vs. 44.5%). FER was significantly better when emotions were presented by video and worse when presented by still pictures. Both subjects with PD and HCs had lower MERT scores in recognizing negative emotions. There was no significant correlation between the duration and severity of PD and MERT score. Conclusion: Our study provided more pieces of evidence for impairment of FER in PD for recognizing emotions like sadness, disgust, and fear compared to happy expressions.
