Pilot intervention to promote tolerance for uncertainty in early multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neurology
• Clinical Intervention

Background:

• Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a risk factor for anxiety and depression.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis presents significant future uncertainty.
• Few interventions target IU in MS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of a brief psychological intervention for improving IU in early MS.
• To examine the intervention's impact on mood, IU, and MS acceptance.

Main Methods:

• 48 participants with early MS and moderate distress were randomized.
• Intervention group received 6 sessions targeting uncertainty tolerance.
• Control group received treatment as usual (TAU).
• Outcomes measured at baseline and 8 weeks via mood, IU, and MS acceptance scales.

Main Results:

• The intervention was well-tolerated, with 82.6% completing all sessions.
• Intervention group showed significantly lower IU and higher MS acceptance than TAU.
• No significant effect on global anxiety was observed.
• Decreased IU correlated with increased MS acceptance (r = -.63).

Conclusions:

• A brief intervention can effectively reduce IU in individuals with MS.
• Improvements in IU are associated with enhanced MS acceptance and positive psychological outcomes.
• This pilot study supports IU-focused interventions for managing psychological distress in MS.