Mood and anxiety disorders in patients with myasthenia gravis - Aetiology, diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic, autoimmune disease involving neuromuscular junctions. It is frequently associated with symptoms such as loss of muscle strength, difficulty in respiration and swallowing, diplopia and ptosis. All chronic diseases, including MG, may have psychiatric consequences in terms of coping and adaptation. Psychiatric morbidity usually appears as anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder and generalised anxiety disorder, and as depressive disorders. However, there are very few data on the prevalence and aetiology of such psychiatric symptoms in patients with MG, and those available in the literature are generally from old studies with poor methodology.