The purpose of this project is to test a brief, telephone-based psychological intervention, CBT-UT, to improve the ability to tolerate uncertainty-and thereby to reduce distress-in people with a recent diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). There are three treatment arms for this study. Participants will receive either (1) CBT for Uncertainty Tolerance, (2) Traditional CBT, or (3) treatment as usual.
Despite substantial improvements in diagnosis and treatment, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) remains an unpredictable disease. Although some physicians can make some predictions about expected progression, the variable course of exacerbations makes it almost impossible to predict how MS will develop or affect function over time. As a result, people with MS must learn to live in a state of chronic uncertainty and the ability to tolerate and cope with this kind of uncertainty is central to quality of life with MS. Individuals who require certainty about the future and are not able to tolerate ambiguity are said to be high in a personality trait known as intolerance of uncertainty (IU). There is a significant gap in MS clinical intervention that necessitates attention. An intervention that specifically targets IU, is developed for people recently diagnosed with MS, and can be provided remotely via telehealth can make a significant impact for this population. Study aims include: (1) to determine the efficacy of CBT-UT relative to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (tCBT) or treatment as usual (TAU) in people diagnosed with MS in the past 3 years; and (2) To increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the intervention effects.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
242
Participants work one-on-one with an interventionist. Treatment sessions focus on understanding the difference between the controllable and uncontrollable aspects of MS, ability to tolerate not knowing exactly what the future will hold, setting personal goals for what "accepting" what MS will look like, and finding ways to live in conjunction with personal values despite the MS diagnosis.
Participants work one-on-one with an interventionist. Treatment sessions focus on goal setting, positive activities, identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts, and bolstering social support.
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, United States
Questionnaire: Level of MS Acceptance as measured by the Acceptance of Chronic Health Conditions, MS Version Questionnaire.
This is a self-reported measure of perceived MS Acceptance. Greater scores represent greater MS Acceptance.
Time frame: 6 Months
Questionnaire: Level of anxiety as measured by the Global Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7).
This is a self-reported measure of perceived anxiety. Greater scores represent greater levels of anxiety.
Time frame: 6 Months
Questionnaire: Level of depression as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
This is a self-reported measure of perceived depression. Greater scores represent greater levels of depression.
Time frame: 6 Months
Demographic: MS Progression Type. Measured by self-reported type of MS.
This is a self-reported demographic question. Options include: Relapsing-Remitting, Primary-Progressive, Secondary-Progressive, Progressive-Relapsing, and Don't Know.
Time frame: Baseline
Demographic: Biological Sex. Measured by self-report.
This is a self-reported demographic question. Options include: Male, Female, Transgender, and If not listed explain.
Time frame: Baseline
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