Key clinical point: Initial treatment with high-efficacy DMT is associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms, compared with an initial low-efficacy DMT.

Major finding: Initiation of high-efficacy DMT was associated with a reduction of 0.58 points/year in depression scores, compared with initiation of low-efficacy DMT.

Study details: An interim analysis of data for 1,501 participants in the ongoing MS PATHS study.

Disclosures: The study was not supported by outside funding. Ellen M. Mowry, MD, one of the investigators, reported having performed contracted research for Biogen, Genzyme, and Sun Pharma. Ms Youkyung and another two investigators reported disclosures or conflicts of interest.