UCSF/Mount Zion Researchers Find Correlation Between Stress and Disease
Activity in Multiple Sclerosis

STANFORD, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--March 26, 1998--People living with multiple
sclerosis have long maintained there is a correlation  between stress they
experience and the progression of their disease. Now a study by researchers at
UCSF/Mount Zion Medical Center, part of UCSF Stanford Health Care, appears to
confirm that stress is related  to disease activity.

Preliminary results of the study were presented today, Thursday,  March 26, by
David Mohr, Ph.D., UCSF assistant clinical professor of  neurology, during the
1998 annual meeting of the Society of  Behavioral Medicine at the Hyatt
Regency in New Orleans.

Previous studies have suggested there is a relationship between  stress levels
and disease activity for multiple sclerosis patients,  but the measures used
were often unreliable.  The UCSF study is the  first both to follow patients
and use clear indicators of disease  activity.

In the UCSF study, 48 patients were followed between 12 and 68  weeks.  The
patients rated the amount of psychological stress and  stressful events that
occurred during the month.  In addition, the  patients received gadolinium-
enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging  (MRI) scans once a month which show MS
disease activity in the brain.

Stressful life events were assessed using the Social Readjustment Rating Scale
(SRRS) and the Hassles Scale (HS), while depression and  anxiety were measured
using the Profile of Mood States (POMS).

"What we found was that major stressful events as well as small  daily hassles
were related to the development of new brain lesions in the brain two months
later," Mohr said.

While brain lesions are not necessarily a sign of increased  impairment, they
do point to an increase in disease activity.

"This is the clearest demonstration yet that what patients are  experiencing
is, in fact, occurring," Mohr said.

Mohr is a psychologist with the MS Center at UCSF/Mount Zion.   Co-
investigators in the study include Peter Marietta, BA; Arne  Boudewyn, Ph.D.,
and Donald Goodkin, M.D., medical director of the  MS Center.

NOTE:  To interview Mohr, contact Dale Martin, UCSF News  Services,
415/885-7277, or contact Bill Glitz at the Hyatt Regency, New Orleans,
504/561-1234, during the conference dates.

CONTACT:

UCSF News Service

Dale Martin, 415/885-7277

E-mail: dmartin@itsa.ucsf.edu

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA LOUISIANA

BW0138  MAR 26,1998