The Wellbeing Neuro Course: A Randomised Controlled Trial of an Online Treatment Program for Adults with Multiple Sclerosis

The interventions, the Wellbeing Neuro Course, is an internet-delivered psychological intervention developed at the eCentreClinic. It consists of: (a) 6 online lessons provided over 10 weeks. The Lessons will include information about identifying symptoms of poor wellbeing including mental health and cognitive difficulties, and teach practical skills for their self- management including; managing thoughts, low mood and anxiety, problem solving, memory and attention, and activity and fatigue levels. The intervention includes guidance and examples on how to adopt core psychological skills into one’s day-to-day life, including three comprehensive case stories of adults with neurological disorders (b) Optional worksheets for each lesson to aid the practice of core skills. Participants are strongly encouraged but not required to complete these worksheets throughout the course. (c) Optional additional written resources, which include information about other important skills, such as problem solving common cognitive difficulties, assertiveness and communication skills and techniques for managing sleep difficulties. Participants are encouraged but not required to read through these relevant written resources. (e) The option of brief contact with a psychologist via secure email or telephone throughout the course. Participants will be encouraged to complete a lesson every 10 days and complete some basic home based activities in the following 10 days. All lessons can be downloaded and printed. Participants are encouraged to complete the course with a support person if available (e.g., partner, carer). Participants will be contacted by a psychologist throughout the course to monitor their progress through the Course; Psychologists from the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at the Royal North Shore Hospital will receive weekly supervision from a Senior Clinical Psychologist at eCentreClinic Psychologist in which participants are reviewed; as per best-practice guidelines. The Wellbeing Neuro Course is based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles and teaches evidence-based skills for managing the impacts of neurological disorders on day-to-day activities and overall mental health. Each lesson takes between 10 and 20 minutes to complete and it is suggested that participants read each lesson at least twice and spend approximately 4 hours, across the week, practicing the skills taught. Adherence (e.g., lesson completion, lesson views) will is monitored via the eCentreClinic software, which is used to provide the Wellbeing Neuro Course.