An Examination of Positive and Negative Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis.

IMPORTANCE: This study provides information to clinicians about how persons with MS coped in both positive and negative ways during a potentially traumatic experience (the coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic), which will help clinicians to provide better services to this population in the face of stressful events. OBJECTIVE: To describe both positive and negative outcomes among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to examine whether resilience and social support were related to positive and negative outcomes during the peak of the pandemic. DESIGN: An online survey administered during the COVID-19 pandemic. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 74 individuals with MS and 104 healthy controls (HCs) recruited through social media and community support groups. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The survey included questionnaires that assessed both positive and negative responses to the pandemic, including benefit finding, loneliness, and distress. Resilience and social support were also assessed. RESULTS: Differences were noted between persons with MS and HCs on negative but not positive outcomes. Better social support and resilience were related to positive outcomes. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Both persons with MS and HCs were similar in benefit finding and stress management. However, negative outcomes were worse in the MS group. Our findings shed light on the importance of individuals with MS adopting a positive outlook to help during times of adversity. What This Article Adds: Among persons with disabilities such as multiple sclerosis, finding benefits during stressful times can be a potential coping mechanism. Furthermore, resilience and social support should be taken into account to moderate the effects of adverse events.

Emotional processing intervention (EMOPRINT): A blinded randomized control trial to treat facial affect recognition deficits in multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Facial affect recognition deficits have been noted in persons with MS, however there is no treatment for these impairments. We investigated the efficacy of the Emotional Processing Intervention (EMOPRINT), a 12-session behavioral intervention teaching facial affect recognition skills and mimicry to improve facial affect recognition abilities in persons with MS. METHODS: This double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial with two time points (pre-treatment; post-treatment) included 36 participants with clinically definite MS, 21 in the treatment group and 15 in the placebo control group. Participants completed a pre-test and post-test neuropsychological assessment, which consisted of tasks of facial affect recognition (primary outcome measure) and questionnaires to assess quality of life and emotional functioning (secondary outcome measures). We hypothesized that improvements in facial affect recognition skills would be observed following treatment. We also examined changes to quality of life and social functioning. Changes in outcome measures were analyzed using a mixed-method analysis of variance. RESULTS: The treatment group showed significantly improved facial affect recognition skills relative to the placebo group post-treatment, F(1,34)=5.91, p=.022, partial ꞃ2=0.146. No significant change was noted on secondary outcomes. The majority of the participants in the intervention group reported that the intervention was helpful and that they used the skills learned in their daily interactions. CONCLUSION: EMOPRINT is effective for improving facial affect recognition skills in MS.