Translational Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Neurology, 21611Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Department of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis Center, 21611Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Clin Rehabil. 2022 Oct;36(10):1305-1313. doi: 10.1177/02692155221107077. Epub 2022 Jun 7.
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.
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.
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 [ = 39.50, = 0.045, = 0.39]. No group differences in other outcomes were observed.
A telehealth-delivered support group intervention appears feasible for further study and shows initial efficacy for the reduction of anxiety in PwMS.
焦虑在多发性硬化症患者（PwMS）中很常见，但缺乏广泛认可的治疗方法。基于群组的远程医疗干预措施是一种易于获得的治疗选择，需要临床试验证据来支持其可行性和初步疗效。我们开展了一项在线支持小组干预措施的试点可行性试验，以降低 PwMS 的焦虑水平。
进行了一项非随机、平行臂临床试验。共纳入 31 名 PwMS：20 名完成了为期 12 周的远程医疗支持小组干预，11 名被分配到仅调查对照组。主要可行性结果是依从性和完成率。主要疗效结果是焦虑，次要结果是抑郁、孤独、痛苦、自我效能、压力和生活质量。
26 名参与者完成了研究。干预组的依从性（75%）和完成率（85%）是可以接受的。结果表明，干预组与对照组之间存在中等大小的组间效应，表明干预组的焦虑程度比对照组有更大的降低[ = 39.50， = 0.045， = 0.39]。其他结果没有观察到组间差异。
远程医疗支持小组干预措施似乎可行，可以进一步研究，并显示出对降低 PwMS 焦虑的初步疗效。
