Quality of Life and Psychological Distress Among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis at Rizgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil City

Background and objectives: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological condition that impacts both physical health and psychological well-being. The objective of this study is to assess the quality of life and psychological distress in multiple sclerosis patients at Rizgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil City, Iraq. Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Rizgary Teaching Hospital-Multiple Sclerosis Center in Erbil City. 159 patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis were recruited in the study to assess the quality of life and the prevalence of psychological distress among multiple sclerosis patients. Data collection was conducted by face-to-face interviews, data analysis was performed using SPSS version 28, and data collection occurred from November 15, 2024, until February 15, 2025. Results: The study revealed that patients with multiple sclerosis demonstrated a moderate to favourable quality of life, with physical health recording the lowest mean score (59.03 ± 14.28). Anxiety was observed in 34%, while depression was in 22%. Gender, employment, and education were significant factors correlated with anxiety and depression. Psychological distress exhibited an inverse correlation with quality of life. Conclusion: The findings of this study reported moderate to favourable quality of life, with physical health most affected. A significant proportion of patients reported high levels of psychological distress, including symptoms of anxiety and depression, which negatively impacted their overall well-being. Sociodemographic variables such as gender, education level, and duration of illness were found to have an influence on both quality of life and psychological distress levels.