Most patients with ALS are not depressed

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new study demonstrates the emotional resilience of those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
As a severe and life-threatening neurological disease, one might expect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to be linked to depression. But this is not necessarily so, according to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco.

They studied a group of 80 patients with advanced ALS. All had severe breathing difficulties. And 53 of them died within the study period. Yet, as many as 57 per cent were not depressed at any time during the study and only eight per cent were depressed all the time. Depression did not increase as death approached.

The researchers found that neither spiritual beliefs nor having a spouse caring for them had any impact on whether the patient with ALS was depressed. Not was financial status a factor. The emotional resilience of these patients, with a life-threatening disease, is remarkable. There may be lessons here for others coping with a serious illness.

Source
Neurology 12th July 2005