A single-group pilot feasibility study of cognitive behavioural therapy in people with multiple sclerosis with depressive symptoms

AbstractPurpose: The aims were to evaluate (a) the feasibility of face-to-face cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in people with MS (PwMS) with depressive symptoms; (b) the feasibility of methods and measurements used; and (c) the outcome of the intervention before the conducting of an equivalence study of comparative methods of face-to-face CBT.Design: A single-group pilot feasibility study.Patients: PwMS (n = 15) with sub-threshold to moderate depressive symptoms, recruited at the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.Methods: The intervention consisted of 15–20 sessions of face-to-face CBT. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment rate, recruitment procedure and adverse events. Primary clinical outcome was the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Follow-ups were conducted after 3 weeks and 3 months. An estimated sample size calculation was conducted.Results: The face-to-face CBT intervention, methods and measurements used were feasible. The outcome on BDI-II indicated that face-to-face ...