The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether positive psychology (PP) exercises such as writing a letter of gratitude or remembering a past success can help individuals with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) to feel more hopeful, happy, and healthy. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is a five-week self-directed PP training intervention feasible and acceptable to individuals with newly diagnosed MS? * Does the completion of a five-week self-directed PP training intervention improve positive affect, emotional function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in individuals with newly diagnosed MS? * Are improvements in positive affect, emotional function and HRQOL maintained after the completion of the intervention? Participants will be randomized to the intervention or waitlist control group. There will be an intervention phase (weeks 1-5) and an extension phase (weeks 6-10). All participants will complete questionnaires at enrollment, 5 weeks and 10 weeks. They will complete 5 weeks of self-directed PP training exercises, either during the intervention phase (intervention group) or extension phase (waitlist control group) of the study. Researchers will compare participants in the intervention and waitlist control groups at the end of the intervention phase to see if there are improvements in positive affect, emotional function and HRQOL. For subjects in the intervention group who demonstrate improvement, researchers will determine if the benefit is maintained by comparing positive affect, emotional function and HRQOL at the completion of the intervention and extension phases of the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
5-week positive psychology intervention
Brigham MS Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Feasibility of the Positive Psychology (PP) Intervention
Percentage of subjects who completed at least four of the five PP exercises.
Time frame: Five weeks
Subject Ratings of Ease of Completion of PP Exercises
Measured by averaging the weekly 0-10 post-exercise Likert scale ratings of ease of completion of PP exercises provided by subjects with 0 being very difficult to complete and 10 being very easy to complete.
Time frame: Five weeks
Subject Ratings of Utility of PP Exercises
Measured by averaging the weekly 0-10 post-exercise Likert scale ratings of utility of PP exercises provided by subjects, with 0 being not helpful and 10 being very helpful.
Time frame: Five weeks
Changes in Affect From Baseline to Five Weeks
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 form 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
Changes in Trait Optimism From Baseline to Five Weeks
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
Changes in Physical, Mental and Social Health From Baseline to Five Weeks
Measured by Neuro-QoL. Neuro-QoL uses computer adaptive testing to assess 11 domains of physical, mental and social health including Ability to participate in Social Roles and Activities, Anxiety, Cognitive Function, Depression, Emotional and Behavioral Dyscontrol, Fatigue, Lower Extremity Function, Positive Affect and Well-being, Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities, Stigma and Upper Extremity Function. Neuro-QoL generates T scores with a mean of 50 and standard deviation (SD) of 10, based on the norming sample used, for each domain. All Neuro-QoL domains are scored such that a high score reflects more of what is being measured.
Time frame: Five weeks
Changes in Resilience From Baseline to Five Weeks
Measured by the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). 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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