Complementary and Alternative Care in Multiple Sclerosis

Bastyr University1,000 enrolled

Overview

This is a prospective, observational study designed to describe disease progression, symptom change, quality of life, diet and lifestyle habits, and frequency of adverse events among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In addition to describing the patterns of CAM use, this study will also identify and describe the positive deviants, those individuals with the highest quality of life and least amount of disease activity. Positive deviants will be compared to controls in order to describe medication, diet, and lifestyle patterns associated with a lack of MS disease progression and high quality of life.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

1,000

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 100 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (including relapsing remitting MS, secondary progressive MS, primary progressive MS, clinically isolated syndromes (CIS), radiologically-isolated syndromes (RIS), possible MS, or probable MS. * Age 18-100 Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to read/write in English * Inability or unwillingness to complete surveys every six (6) months. (\~ 90 min)

Locations (1)

Bastyr University Clinical Research Center

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

"CAM Therapies" survey

This survey has been developed to identify the complementary and alternative therapies most commonly used by individuals with MS. Results will be reported with descriptive statistics.

Time frame: 5 years

Secondary Outcomes

Modified Expanded Disability Severity Score (EDSS)

The EDSS will be used to capture disease severity and rates of progression in this cohort.