Emotion Regulation Skills Training for Individuals With MS and Their Support Partners

Johns Hopkins University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments: Behavioral: Facilitated Peer Support; Behavioral: PERSIST

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03934489

PP-1804-30860 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

IRB00199623

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot randomized controlled trial investigates a novel, group-based emotion regulation skills training intervention for reducing anxious and depressive symptomatology and improving emotion regulation and problem solving in individuals with MS and the individual's support partners. Participants will be randomized (1:1) to the intervention ("Partnered Emotion Regulation Skills Intervention and Supportive Teaching [PERSIST]") or to the active control (Facilitated Peer Support).

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• at least 18 years old
• able to speak/read in English
• able to commit to attending at least 9 of the 12 weekly group sessions
• individuals with MS must be relapse/exacerbation-free for at least 1 month
• support partners must score at least 8 on the HADS-D or HADS-A
• individuals with MS must score a least 11 on the HADS-D or HADS-A

Exclusion criteria

• under 18 years old
• unable to speak/read in English
• unable to commit to attending at least 9 of the 12 weekly group sessions
• MS relapse within 1 month

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

PERSIST

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive Partnered Emotion Regulation Skills Intervention and Support.

Treatment:

Behavioral: PERSIST

Facilitated Peer Support

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will undergo a 12-week group intervention, adapted from community-based peer support groups, that focuses on participant-generated topics and facilitated discussion.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Facilitated Peer Support