Stress and anxiety can have an adverse impact on health, and the experience of many around the 2020 outbreak of COVID-19 is affecting health and well-being. Individuals with chronic disease such as multiple sclerosis may be particularly vulnerable in some ways, but also particularly resilient in others. This study evaluates the effects of belonging to online support groups that meet weekly for 12 weeks to address the stress and anxiety felt by individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This study will also measure and explore the effects of online support groups.
Anxiety is a pervasive and debilitating symptom for individuals with MS, who are at much
greater risk for anxiety than the general population. The lifetime prevalence of anxiety in
MS is estimated at 48.9%, compared to 37.9% in the general population. The negative
consequences of anxiety for individuals with MS include impairment of work function and
workplace attrition, increased healthcare usage and healthcare costs, increased physical
disability (i.e., higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score), and reduced overall
quality of life. And while anxiety has been shown to be acutely elevated both before and in
the first years after diagnosis, individuals with longstanding MS also exhibit anxiety at
higher rates than the general population. Of note, women are at heightened risk for both
anxiety and MS, and lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with increased prevalence
of anxiety in MS. In the SUNLIGHT study, participants join a structured meeting in which they
receive content specifically focused on anxiety, its detrimental impact on individuals with
MS, and an emphasis on techniques to reduce anxiety. Over the 12-week period of the
intervention, participants learn techniques for stress reduction that can be
self-administered, such that the benefits of participation outlive the active period of the
intervention.
Behavioral: Online support Group
12 one-hour, once-weekly online support groups for people with Multiple Sclerosis to address anxiety related to the COVID-19 outbreak and its effects on them.
Inclusion Criteria:
- MS Diagnosis
- 18 years or older
Exclusion Criteria:
- None
Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
Victoria Leavitt, PhD, Principal Investigator
Columbia University