Feasibility trial of a telehealth support group intervention to reduce anxiety in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Objective Anxiety is common among persons with MS (PwMS), but widely accepted treatments are lacking. Group-based interventions delivered via telehealth are an accessible treatment option requiring clinical trial evidence to support feasibility and initial efficacy. We conducted a pilot feasibility trial of an online support group intervention to reduce anxiety in PwMS. Methods A non-randomized, parallel arm clinical trial was conducted. A total of 31 PwMS were enrolled: 20 completed a 12-week telehealth-delivered support group intervention and 11 were assigned to a survey-only control group. Primary feasibility outcomes were adherence and completion rates. Primary efficacy outcome was anxiety, secondary outcomes were depression, loneliness, distress, self-efficacy, stress, and quality of life. Results Twenty-six participants completed the study. Intervention group adherence (75%) and completion (85%) rates were acceptable. Results indicated a medium size between-group effect, suggesting a greater reduction in anxiety in the intervention group compared to the control group [ U = 39.50, p = 0.045, r = 0.39]. No group differences in other outcomes were observed. Conclusion A telehealth-delivered support group intervention appears feasible for further study and shows initial efficacy for the reduction of anxiety in PwMS.

Effects of elastic band resistance training on the physical and mental health of elderly individuals: A mixed methods systematic review

“…In the second study [ 56 ], it was found that most participants preferred the frequency of exercise for an hour three times a week in groups of 20 to 29 people. Some studies maintained that group intervention was an effective way to promote healthy behavior [ 73 , 74 ]. The intervention process was conducive to peer support and communication, meeting the needs of interpersonal communication among elderly individuals, reducing loneliness, and promoting mental health.…”

Telehealth-delivered cognitive rehabilitation for people with cognitive impairment as part of the post-COVID syndrome: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial as part of the CICERO (Cognitive Impairment in Long COVID: Phenotyping and Rehabilitation) study

“…While traditional methods have involved lengthy face-to-face sessions, the requirement for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a wholesale pivot towards remote provision of clinical care (22). However, the potential utility of remotely applied cognitive rehabilitation in PASC is supported by precedents for this approach, with telehealth platforms having previously been used to deliver cognitive interventions in dementia (23) and MS (24). While telehealth introduces some technical and logistical considerations (25), it confers notable advantages over traditional approaches that are especially relevant for this clinical population.…”

‘I almost felt like I can be a little bit more honest’: experiences of a telehealth group for bipolar disorder

“…Telehealth/video conferencing group therapy and individual therapy programs have been shown to be as effective as face-to-face therapy in several studies (Gentry et al ., 2019; Poletti et al ., 2020; Scott et al ., 2022) showing support for the use of these platforms for mental health service delivery beyond COVID-19. As such, growing interest in researching telehealth-delivered interventions has been seen as a result of the pandemic in a wide range of mental health areas such as caregiver psychoeducation in schizophrenia (Mueser et al ., 2022), anxiety in multiple sclerosis (Kever et al ., 2022), clergy-delivered group therapy CBT treatments for depression (Weaver et al ., 2022) and OCD treatment for rural veterans (Fletcher et al ., 2022).…”