Mental comorbidity and multiple sclerosis

[MSUK]

Mental comorbidity and multiple sclerosis: validating administrative data to support population-based surveillance

Abstract (provisional)

Background
While mental comorbidity is considered common in multiple sclerosis (MS), its impact is poorly defined; methods are needed to support studies of mental comorbidity. We validated and applied administrative case definitions for any mental comorbidities in MS.

Methods
Using administrative health data we identified persons with MS and a matched general population cohort. Administrative case definitions for any mental comorbidity, any mood disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia were developed and validated against medical records using a a kappa statistic (k). Using these definitions we estimated the prevalence of these comorbidities in the study populations........Read More - http://www.ms-uk.org/index.cfm/cognition