Effect of Guided Imagery on Well-being in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This single-center interventional study quasi-randomly allocated patients to a guided imagery or control intervention (positive journaling). Data were analyzed with treatment allocation masked.

Detailed Description
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Interventions: Participants were assigned in alternate order to 10 weekly 1-hour sessions Healing Light Guided Imagery or at-home positive journaling; drop-outs were replaced. Intervention Type: Behavioral Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). Because nerves in any part of the brain or spinal cord may be damaged, patients with multiple sclerosis can have symptoms in different parts of the body. Many Multiple Sclerosis patients suffer from depression, fatigue and anxiety in addition to physical symptoms. Drugs prescribed for MS have been shown to not improve these comorbid psychological symptoms. Researchers have shown that mindfulness-based training programs can help MS patients, but these therapies are highly resource demanding and taxing for those involved. Healing Light Guided Imagery (HLGI; supplementary materials) is a guided imagery therapy that simulates a self-hypnotic trance state that has been anecdotally shown to improve depression and fatigue in patients with MS in less time and with fewer support resources. The investigators plan to test whether HLGI can increase patient well-being.

Official Title
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Effect of Guided Imagery on Well-being in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Conditions
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Guided Imagery
* Other: Journaling


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis 18-70 years old Able to read and write in English Able to attend sessions at the UC San Diego School of Medicine Age group: adult Gender: both Target enrollment: 20 Participant exclusion criteria: Severe depression (score of 31 or higher on the BDI) Very high levels of fatigue (above an average of 6 on the FSS) Low levels of mindfulness (below an average score of 2 on the FMI).
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Guided Imagery<br>Guided Imagery meditation | Other: Guided Imagery<br>* Guided Imagery meditation<br>|
| Active Comparator: Journaling<br>Keeping a journal | Other: Journaling<br>* Keeping a journal<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quality of Life (MS-QOL-54) | Quality of Life based on Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Instrument (MS-QOL-54) | Change from baseline at 10 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mood (BDI-II) | Depressed mood based on the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) | Change from baseline at 10 weeks | 
| Fatigue (FSS) | Fatigue levels based on the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) | Change from baseline at 10 weeks |