Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease caused by the immune system attacking the brain, nerves and spinal cord. The disabling disease affects more than 2.8 million people globally, with greater occurrence in areas farther from the equator and first onset of the disease usually appearing in patients between the ages of 20 and 40.
Current literature on the topic suggests that in MS, cognitive-behavioral treatments have generally proven to be more effective than antidepressant treatments and may be preferable given that they are non-invasive and do not require the patient to take additional medication.
"An important goal of CBT is to help the individual challenge and change those thoughts so they're more realistic, adaptive and positive. My colleagues and I wanted to see if an online, self-paced therapy program could be a valuable treatment option for patients with MS." program to address issues affecting individuals with MS.
After taking baseline depressive measurements, the researchers randomly assigned the participants to a standalone iCBT group, a guided iCBT group or a waitlist control group. The standalone and guided iCBT groups had access to the iCBT program, with the guided iCBT group receiving a weekly check-in email from a therapist. The waitlist control group was offered access to the online program after 6 months.