A new study published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology found that people living with myasthenia gravis (MG) experience significantly higher levels of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances, compared to individuals without the disease.
The study analyzed data from 116 people with MG and 119 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The participants completed a series of scientific questionnaires assessing mood, sleep, quality of life and overall psychological burden.
The results showed that those with MG scored consistently worse across nearly every measure. Compared with their healthy peers, people with MG had significantly higher levels of psychological distress and reported more symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as more frequent sleep disturbances. Individuals with MG also scored slightly lower on executive functioning tests.
The researchers found that disease severity and steroid dosage were independently linked to a higher risk of psychiatric symptoms. Those taking higher daily doses of prednisone had more anxiety, depression and even psychotic-like symptoms.
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Specific MG symptoms also appeared to influence psychological health. For example, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) was associated with greater distress and anxiety, while double vision was linked to sleep issues and hostility. Shortness of breath was associated with both cognitive difficulties and psychotic-like symptoms.
The study’s limitations include reliance on self-reported measures and missing data on cumulative steroid exposure.
Still, the authors say that the findings point to a clear need for a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to MG care that acknowledges and treats the disease’s mental health impact alongside its physical symptoms. They note that regular screening for mood symptoms, sleep issues and cognitive changes could help identify problems early and improve overall quality of life.
“Future research should explore longitudinal changes in neuropsychiatric symptoms, the impact of treatment modifications, including longitudinal monitoring of cumulative steroids exposure, and potential neurobiological mechanisms underlying the observed cognitive and psychological disturbances in MG patients,” the researchers concluded.
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