EFFECTS OF ANXIETY ON MOTOR IMAGERY ABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Purpose: Motor imagery (MI) is defined as the mental representation of action without any body movement. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of anxiety on the MI abilities of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Patients with MS and healthy individuals participated in the study. Patients with MS were divided into two groups as anxious and non-anxious according to the cut-off value of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (>= 8). The clarits of image and the intensity of MI abilities were evaluated using the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ). The temporal congruence between the real and imagined movement was calculated as the delta time using the mental chronometer for the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). The higher scores of delta indicate in a reduction in MI ability. Results: Forty-one subjects were included in the study, of whom were 12 patients with MS with anxiety and 15 patients with MS without anxiety, and 14 were healthy. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the patients with MS and the healthy subjects regarding MI measurements, and the effect sizes (ES) of the differences were small (Cohen's d<0.20). Although there was no significant difference between the groups based on the KVIQ scores (p>0.05), clarity of image and intensity of kinesthetic sensation in patients with anxiety were lower with medium and small ES (Cohen's d=0.577 and Cohen's d=0.160, respectively) than those without anxiety. Although there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the groups in the delta time of the mental chronometer, it was higher in the patients with MS with anxiety with a medium ES (Cohen's d=0.696). Conclusion: Anxiety appears to be a possible factor that may affect MI ability. In patients with anxiety, appropriate modifications to MI training will be a suitable choice.