Assessing mental health for MS patients

Assessment of behavioral health conditions, healthcare resource utilization, and medication use among patients seeking mental health care within a large representative real-world MS registry

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has previously been associated with increased prevalence of behavioral health conditions compared to the general population, particularly depression and anxiety.

Behavioral health conditions are thought to be underdiagnosed and undertreated for patients with MS.

Additional research is needed to understand the true burden of behavioral health conditions for patients with MS.

Objective

To describe comorbid behavioral health conditions, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and medication use among patients with MS who were seeking mental health care seeking mental health care in a real-world MS registry.

Methods

Data were derived from the OM1 MS Registry, a multi-source real-world registry with linked healthcare claims and EMR data on patients with MS in the U.S. from 2013-2021.

The first observed MS diagnosis date was considered the index date.

All patients with MS seeking mental health care were included.

Seeking mental health care (SMHC) was defined as having any encounter with a behavioral health specialist, a behavioral health-related procedure code, or a record for a behavioral health-related medication on or after index

Patient characteristics were assessed on or before index, while comorbidities, HCRU, and medication use included data post-index.

Results

Characteristics of Patients with MS seeking mental health care

Of 19,133 patients with MS, 15,384 patients (80.4%) were seeking mental health care.
Most patients with MS seeking mental health care had a behavioral health (BH) comorbidity (71.3%) (Figure 1). See Table 1 in full poster for more details.
Patients with MS seeking mental health care:
- Saw psychiatrists (28.6%)
- Had non-substance use related psychotherapy (25.8%)
Most patients with MS seeking mental health care used behavioral medications (87.8%) (Figure 2).

Fig 1. Proportion of Patients with MS Seeking Mental Health Care with Behavioral Health Comorbidities

Fig 2. Proportion of Patients with MS Seeking Mental Health Care with Behavioral Health (BH) Medication

Conclusions

4 out of 5 patients with MS were seeking mental health care.
Anxiety and depression were the most common behavioral health comorbidities among patients with MS seeking mental health care.
Patients with MS seeking mental health care were frequently treated with behavioral health-related medications.

View the full poster here for more details and a list of references.