Positive psychology (PP) uses targeted activities to increase the frequency and intensity of positive emotional experiences such as positive affect. Examples of PP activities include recalling positive life events and performing acts of kindness. This pilot study will examine the tolerability and efficacy of a PP training program to increase positive affect in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In the intervention phase, subjects randomized to the intervention group will complete five weeks of PP exercises, one exercise per week. Subjects will also have weekly calls with the study trainer. The control group will have no study activities. In the extension phase, subjects in the control group will complete PP training as described above. The investigators will examine the tolerability of the program by calculating the proportion of subjects who complete the program. The investigators will also examine exercise-specific ratings of ease and utility to measure the acceptability of each exercise. Finally, the investigators will evaluate the efficacy of PP training by comparing subjects in the intervention and control groups on measures of positive affect, emotional function, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and self-reported functional activities such as work. If successful, this study will advance the use of PP as a low cost, innovative and effective tool for increasing positive affect, decreasing depression and anxiety and improving HRQOL in patients with MS.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
5-week positive psychology intervention
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Percentage of PP Exercises Completed by Subjects
Measured by percentage of PP exercises completed by subjects.
Time frame: Five weeks
Subject Ratings of Ease of Completion of PP Exercises
Measured by weekly 0-10 post-exercise Likert scale ratings of ease of completion of PP exercise provided by subjects, with 0 being very difficult to complete and 10 being very easy to complete. Scores range from 0-10.
Time frame: Five weeks
Changes in Affect
Measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). PANAS is comprised of two 10-item mood scales, one measuring positive affect and the other measuring negative affect. Scores on the Positive Affect scale range from 10-50. Higher scores are associated with greater positive affect. Scores on the Negative Affect scale range from 10-50, with lower scores representing lower levels of negative affect.
Time frame: Five weeks
Change in Trait Optimism
Measured by the Life Orientation Test - Revised (LOT-R). LOT-R is a 6-item measure of trait optimism and pessimism. Scores range from 0-24. Higher scores are associated with greater optimism.
Time frame: Five weeks
Change in Depression
Measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). CES-D is a 20-item measure of depression with scores ranging from 20-80. Higher scores are associated with greater depression.
Time frame: Five weeks
Change in Anxiety
Measured by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). STAI includes two 20-item questionnaires designed to measure the current temporary condition of "state" anxiety and the more general and longstanding condition of "trait" anxiety. Scores for each scale range from 20-80. Higher scores are associated with greater anxiety.
Time frame: Five weeks
Changes in Health-related Quality of Life
Measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36). The SF-36 is a 36-item measure of health status and quality of Life. It consists of eight scaled scores and two summary scores. The lower the score, the more disability. The higher the score, the less disability. Scores for each scale range from 0-100.
Time frame: Five weeks
Change in Work Productivity
Measured by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI). Outcomes are expressed as impairment percentages with higher scores indicating greater impairment and less productivity. Scores range from 0-100.
Time frame: Five weeks
Change in Perceived Stress
Measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The PSS is a 10-item questionnaire with scores ranging from 0-40. Higher scores are associated with greater perceived stress.
Time frame: Five weeks
Change in Resilience
Measured by the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). The BRS is a 6-item measure of resilience with scores ranging from 1-5. Higher scores are associated with greater resilience.
Time frame: Five weeks
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