Clinical dimensions of people with co-occurring obsessive-compulsive and related disorders and multiple sclerosis: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease with a significant burden of neuropsychiatric sequelae. These symptoms, including depression and anxiety, are predictors of morbidity and mortality in people with MS. Despite a high prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder in MS, potentially shared pathophysiological mechanisms and overlap in possible treatments, no review has specifically examined the clinical dimensions of people with obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRD) and MS. In this scoping review, we aim to map the available knowledge on the clinical dimensions of people with co-occurring OCRD and MS. Understanding the characteristics of this population in greater detail will inform more patient-centred care and create a framework for future studies.Methods and analysis We developed a search strategy to identify all articles that include people with co-occurring OCRD and MS. The search strategy (extending to the grey literature) was applied to MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, Web of Science and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Records will undergo title and abstract screening by two independent reviewers. Articles meeting inclusion criteria based on title and abstract screening will go on to full-text review by the two independent reviewers. After reaching a consensus about articles for inclusion in the final review, data will be extracted using a standardised extraction form. The extracted data will include clinical characteristics of patients such as age, gender, medication use and severity of MS, among others.Ethics and dissemination This scoping review does not require research ethics approval. Results will be shared at national and/or international conferences, in a peer-reviewed journal publication, in a plain language summary and in a webinar for the general public.