A digital tele-health intervention for anxiety and stress management in younger patients with MS

ABSTRACT

Objective: To test the feasibility of a remotely delivered digital telehealth intervention targeting anxiety and stress in patients with pediatric onset MS. Background: Pediatric onset (<18 years) occurs in approximately 3% of MS cases, representing the youngest affected subpopulation. Emotional distress commonly occurs in MS, and there is a need for accessible and effective interventions. Personal Zen is an app-based version of the established intervention for cognitive bias retraining.Design/Methods: Participants with confirmed pediatric onset MS were recruited for this teleintervention during routine in-person or video outpatient visits during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were provided the Personal Zen app for installation, trained on its use, and instructed to train daily (>4 times a week) x four weeks. Measures of anxiety and stress were administered at baseline and repeated weekly.Results: A total n=22 participants (86.4% female, age 17.95 ± 1.94, range 15 to 23 years) with minimal disability (EDSS range 0.0 to 2.5) were enrolled. Adherence was high, averaging 16.6 entries per participant over one month, indicating feasibility of the intervention. At study end there was a significant decrease in symptoms of anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory, 2.23±10.71, p=.006), depression (Beck Depression Inventory, 6.08±8.58, p=.025) and negative affect (4.55±7.88, p= .025).Conclusions: The digital telehealth intervention Personal Zen is a feasible and effective tool to reduce distress experienced by younger patients with MS, and particularly relevant as a therapeutic option in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.