Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Enhancing Self-Esteem in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomised Controlled Trial of the Lexical Association Technique

France160 participantsStarted 2025-09

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether the Lexical Association Technique (LAT) can improve well-being in people recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), either relapsing-remitting (RRMS) or secondary progressive (SPMS). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the LAT increase well-being more than a placebo technique ? * Does this technique help reduce psychological distress and improve quality of life ? Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to either the LAT group or the active control group * Complete short visualization exercises at home using a personal computer * Fill out questionnaires about self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and adjustment to illness * Take part in the study over several weeks, with assessments before, after, and 14 days after the intervention Researchers will compare results between the two groups (LAT group vs. Control group) to test the immediate and lasting effects of the LAT.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

INCLUSION CRITERIA * Native French speaker * Access to a computer and internet connection at home * Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis according to the revised criteria of Thompson et al. (2018), either relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive form, between 1 and 5 years since disease onset (RRMS or SPMS entry phase) * Currently receiving first- or second-line oral treatment (e.g., Teriflunomide, Dimethylfumarate, Fingolimod, Cladribine) * Adult participants (age ≥ 18) NON-INCLUSION CRITERIA * Participant currently excluded from another study * Individuals covered by Articles L1121-5 to L1121-8 of the French Public Health Code (CSP), i.e., legally protected persons: pregnant women, women in labor, breastfeeding mothers, individuals deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision, individuals under psychiatric care under Articles L.3212-1 and L.3213-1 not falling under Article L.1121-8, individuals admitted to healthcare or social institutions for reasons other than research, minors, individuals under legal protection or unable to provide informed consent * Staff members with a hierarchical link to the principal investigator SECONDARY EXCLUSION CRITERIA * Participants not presenting with low self-esteem, i.e., score \>26 on the Self-Esteem Scale (EES; Vallières \& Vallerand, 1990) * Major life event significantly affecting well-being in the two weeks prior to study inclusion (e.g., bereavement, separation, childbirth, etc.) * Initiation of psychological, psych…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Effect of the therapeutic technique on patients' self-esteem assessed by comparing patients score at the RSES between the experimental and active control group after the procedure.

Timeframe: The primary endpoint is defined as the difference in self-esteem scores measured on the day following the completion of the LAT or control procedure (post-test), that is, 14 days (±2 days) after the participant's enrollment in the study.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07064291

SponsorUniversity Hospital, Grenoble

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-09

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