Multiple Sclerosis, Self-Compassion
Conditions
Keywords
Mindfulness
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to develop and investigate a compassion-based intervention (Mindful Self-Compassion course) in people with multiple sclerosis. The main objectives are: 1. Explore feasibility of trial processes including recruitment, adherence, retention, and follow-up 2. Explore experiences of people with multiple sclerosis with the Compassion-based intervention, including perceived effects, barriers and facilitators to participation, suggestions for improvement 3. Determine potential effects on stress, anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, illness adjustment, and self-compassion. Participants will be asked to take part in an 8-week online Mindful Self-Compassion course and report changes in levels of stress, anxiety, depression, self-compassion, adjustment, emotion, and quality of life from pre- to post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Additionally, participants will be asked to take part in a semi-structured interview to explore their experiences with the course, perceived effects, and suggestions for improvement.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSelf-compassion intervention (the Mindful Self-Compassion course)
An online 8-week mindful self-compassion course with weekly sessions.
Sponsors
Robert Simpson
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Aged 18 years or older 2. Able to understand spoken and written English 3. Have a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis 4. Willing to take place in an Mindful Self Compassion course
Exclusion criteria
1. Cognitive impairment (\<26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment) 2. Severe active mental health impairment (psychosis, suicidality)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment | 4 months | The investigators will measure the number of participants eligible for and recruited to the study. |
| Retention | 4 months | The investigators will measure the percentage of participants who complete outcome data. |
| Adherence | 4 months | The investigators will measure the number of participants who completed the mindful self-compassion course. |
| Follow-up rates | 4 months | The investigators will measure the percentage of participants who complete outcome measures pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Emotion Regulation | Measured at baseline, 8-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Measured using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form. Answers are assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Higher values indicate greater difficulties in emotion regulation. |
| Quality of Life using the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29) | Measured at baseline, 8-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Measured using the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale. Items on the scale have a Likert scale from 1-5, with a range of 0-100 total and higher scores indicating greater disability. |
| Stress | Measured at baseline, 8-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Measured using the Perceived Stress Scale-10. The total score can range from 0-40, with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress. |
| Adjustment | Measured at baseline, 8-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Measured using the Coping with MS Scale. Answers are assessed using a 5-point Likert scale and a mean per subscale group will be reported. Higher values indicate greater tendency to use coping strategies. |
| Participant Experiences and Perspectives | Measured at baseline, 8-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Semi-structured interviews will aim to capture participants' experiences with the course and perspectives on the use of self-compassion in care. |
| Anxiety | Measured at baseline, 8-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The total score ranges from 0-21, with higher values representing increased anxiety symptoms. |
| Depression | Measured at baseline, 8-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The total score ranges from 0-21, with higher values representing increased depressive symptoms. |
| Self-compassion | Measured at baseline, 8-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up. | Measured using the Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form. The total score ranges from a 1-5 Likert scale, with higher scores representing high self-compassion. |
Countries
Canada
Contacts
Primary ContactRobert Simpson, PhD
Backup ContactJillian Scandiffio, MSc
Outcome results
None listed