A-71 Subjective Employment Concerns: Correlates and Impact on Employment Status One Year Later in Women with Multiple Sclerosis

• Published in: Archives of clinical neuropsychology Vol. 36; no. 6; p. 1113
• Main Authors: Cohen, Jenna N, Stimmel, Marnina, Foley, Frederick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 31.08.2021
• ISSN: 1873-5843; 1873-5843
• DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acab062.89

Abstract Objective Loss of employment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and is associated with fatigue, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. This study looked at a “low-risk” group of women, with subclinical levels of these factors, to evaluate whether subjective concerns about employment would relate to decreased employment status over time. Secondarily, fatigue, depressive symptoms, and cognition were also examined in relation to employment concerns at baseline, to determine whether subjective concerns might indicate prodromal psychiatric and cognitive dysfunction. Methods Our sample includes 52 employed women with MS who participated in a larger quasi-experimental employment study. Screening included open-ended questions about employment concerns and measures of fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), and cognitive functioning (Symbol-Digit Modalities Test). Because this subset of women were considered “low-risk,” they were followed over time (1 year) with no active intervention. Results Overall, 16/52 women (44%) voiced employment concerns. A chi-square analysis revealed that 5 (31.3%) of those women had decreased employment status at one year, while only 3 (8.3%) women without employment concerns had decreased employment status (p = 0.049, Fisher’s exact). Comparison of women with and without employment concerns (independent t-tests), indicated that those with concerns had higher depressive symptoms (p = 0.017); groups did not differ in cognitive functioning or fatigue at baseline. Conclusions Findings suggest that women with MS who were previously thought to be “low-risk” may still experience negative functional outcomes such as decreased employment status, when they voice subjective employment concerns. Employment concerns may also indicate prodromal depressive symptoms.