Pilot evaluation of a resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) significantly impacts psychosocial well-being, including resilience and quality of life (QoL).
• Existing interventions may not fully address the complex psychosocial needs of people with MS (PwMS).
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a framework for enhancing psychological flexibility and resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of an ACT-based group resilience training program for PwMS.
• To evaluate the program's impact on psychosocial outcomes such as resilience, QoL, and distress.
• To explore changes in core ACT processes (mindfulness, defusion, values, acceptance) as secondary outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post group intervention design with a 3-month follow-up was employed.
• The intervention comprised 8 group sessions focused on ACT principles and resilience-building.
• Thirty-seven PwMS completed validated questionnaires measuring primary and secondary outcomes.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were noted in resilience, physical and mental health QoL, depression, and stress.
• Key ACT processes, including defusion, values, and acceptance, showed significant positive changes.
• Defusion and values were identified as mediators for improvements in physical QoL and stress, respectively.

Conclusions:

• The ACT-based group resilience training demonstrated feasibility and positive psychosocial outcomes for PwMS.
• The program effectively enhanced resilience, QoL, and reduced distress, supported by improvements in ACT processes.
• Findings suggest the program's utility for community-based organizations supporting PwMS.