Abstract
BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable, neurodegenerative disease, significantly associated with psychological, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional consequences. MS is more common in females than males and frequently affects women during their reproductive years. Despite the frequent mental disorders, comorbidities, and emotional problems in People with MS (PwMS), these conditions are too often underdiagnosed and undertreated.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the efficacy of a group format of the Unified Protocol (UP) for the Transdiagnostic treatment of depression and anxiety disorders in females with MS.MethodsIn the present study, Sixty-four adult females diagnosed with MS were randomized to either the UP (n = 32) or treatment-as-usual conditions. The assessment protocol included semi-structured clinical interviews and self-reports evaluating diagnostic criteria, depression, anxiety and worry symptoms, emotional regulation, and affectivity.ResultsRepeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the UP significantly improved depression scores [Cohen’s d = − 2.11, 95% CI (− 2.72, − 1.50)], anxiety scores [Cohen’s d = − 3.34, 95% CI (− 4.01, − 2.58)], positive and negative affect scale (PANAS)-positive affect scores [Cohen’s d = 1.46, 95% CI (1.46, 2.01)], PANAS-negative affect scores [Coen’s d = − 2.21, 95% CI (− 2.84, − 1.60)], difficulties emotion regulation scale scores [Cohen’s d = 1.40, 95% CI (− 0.87, − 0.03)], and Worry scale scores [Cohen’s d = − 0.45, 95% CI (− 0.95, − 0.04)] at the end of treatment relative to compared to the control condition. Also, treatment gains were maintained at the three-month follow-up (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe findings provide the support that the UP could be an additional efficient psychological treatment for females with MS.ISRCTN Number: ISRCTN95459505.
Highlights
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable, neurodegenerative disease, significantly associated with psychological, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional consequences
The findings provide the support that the Unified Protocol (UP) could be an additional efficient psychological treatment for females with MS
A high prevalence of depression associated with no treatment receive or anxiety disorders comorbidity has been associated with high suicide risk in People with MS (PwMS) [15]
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable, neurodegenerative disease, significantly associated with psychological, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional consequences. Despite the frequent mental disorders, comorbidities, and emotional problems in People with MS (PwMS), these conditions are too often underdiagnosed and undertreated. 73% of PwMS endorsed subjective symptoms of emotion dysregulation such as irritability or crying during the last month In this sense, emotional regulation mechanisms affected by MS is receiving more attention [10]. Progressive nerve demyelination, neuroaxonal loss, and axonal degeneration impair the ability to neural communication [11] frontal lobes, prefrontal cortex, and Amygdala [12] These brain areas have critical roles in emotional regulation and psychosocial skills [13, 14]. Despite the frequent mental disorders, comorbidities, and emotional problems in PwMS, these conditions are too often underdiagnosed and undertreated [19]
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