The role of fatigue and depression in illness perception of patients with Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Fatigue and depression affect the illness perception of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of fatigue and depression in illness perception of patients with MS. METHODS: The present study was a descriptive correlational research. The target population was all patients with MS who referred to the Iranian MS Society. The sample consisted of 138 patients who were selected using convenience sampling. Data were gathered using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ) and were analyzed via stepwise regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Based on study findings, fatigue and depression had a statistically significant relationship with all subscales of illness perception. The results of stepwise regression analysis indicated that fatigue and depression predict disease outcome, personal control, therapeutic‎ control, identity, concern, illness recognition, and emotion regulation among patients with MS. CONCLUSION: The findings of this research showed that illness perception, as an effective indicator in patient's quality of life (QOL), appears to be predicted by fatigue and depression.