The Eating Attitudes in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract

Scientific Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative autoimmne disease, usually beginning at young adult ages and progressing with the repeated neurological functional disorders. Several psychiatric disorders can be seen in MS. Eating disorders can also be frequently seen at adolescent and young adult ages as in MS. The frequency of the possible eating disorder in MS patients had been researched in this study. Patients and Methods: A total of 186 patients diagnosed certainly with MS according to McDonald criteria and having "relapsing remitting'' clinical form were included in this study. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) aimed at determining the possible eating disorder was applied to all the patients. Results: The average age of the patients was 35.07 +/- 8.72 years; the average Expanded Disability Status Scale Score (EDSS) was 2.35 +/- 1.53; the average period of illness was 6.14 +/- 3.14 years. The eating attitude was disordered in 17 (9.14%) patients. 10 of 17 patients were female and 7 of 17 patients were male. There was not a statistically significant correlation between the eating attitude and the aveage EDSS. Conclusion: In our study, the risk of the eating disorder in MS patients was found high compared with the common risk in the society. As a result of eating disorders, unwanted development progression can be seen in the natural course of MS and so, this kind of tests aimed at determining eating disorder in MS patients should be performed and the opportunity of early diagnosis and, if requires, treatment should be provided.