anxiety

Posted on Multiple Sclerosis

New study reveals pandemic-specific depression and anxiety among individuals with multiple sclerosis

Lauren Strober, PhD


Dr. Strober is senior research scientist in the Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience at Kessler Foundation. CREDIT Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation researchers published results of a survey of the emotional outcomes of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparison of data collected during the pandemic with pre-pandemic data for the study sample suggests the occurrence of pandemic-specific depression and anxiety. Their article, “Surviving a global pandemic: The experience of depression, anxiety, and loneliness among individuals with multiple sclerosis,” (10.1016/j.msard.2022.103497) was published online in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders on January 14, 2022. The authors are Lauren Strober, PhD, Erica Weber, PhD, Anthony Lequerica, PhD, and Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, of Kessler Foundation.

The social restrictions mandated by the COVID-19 pandemic have heightened concerns about exacerbations of pre-existing mental health issues and loneliness among vulnerable populations, such as MS To assess the impact of the pandemic on the MS population, researchers surveyed 142 individuals who had previously reported their emotional experiences in a national online survey. Comparisons showed increases in depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the pandemic, with 54% reporting ‘new’ depression, and 33%, ‘new’ anxiety. Increases in loneliness affected all people with depression and anxiety, whether symptoms were new or pre-existing.

The research team sought to differentiate individuals with new symptoms from those with pre-pandemic symptoms and no prior reported symptoms. “We found that ‘new’ depression and anxiety appeared to be related specifically to the pandemic,” reported lead author Lauren Strober, PhD, senior research scientist in the Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience at Kessler Foundation. “Also, we saw no association with the person-specific factors commonly associated with depression and anxiety in individuals with MS, namely, personality and self-efficacy.”

The findings have important implications for the treatment of mental health issues in MS. “Clinicians need to be aware of the heterogenous nature of depression and anxiety in their patients with MS, and approach treatment accordingly,” said Dr. Strober. “Individuals with new symptomatology will benefit from cognitive behavioral interventions that stress coping, positive mental health habits, and encouragement to connect with others despite the pandemic,” she added, “while individuals with pre-existing symptoms may respond to those aimed at improving self-efficacy and other more fundamental factors of emotional distress.”

Posted on Pain Management

Cognitive behavior therapy significantly reduced depression and anxiety in chronic pain patients

MS and depression


The results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) has shown that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that focuses on psychological flexibility and behaviour change, provided a significant reduction in self-reported depression and anxiety among patients participating in a pain rehabilitation programme.

This treatment also resulted in significant increases in self-efficacy, activity engagement and pain acceptance.

To assess the potential benefits of an 8-week programme of group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in people with persistent pain, measures of pain acceptance and activity engagement were taken using the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire. Measures of psychological distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and self-efficacy were also taken at assessment, on the final day of the programme, and at the follow up six-month review.

For those chronic pain patients with scores at all three time points, there were statistically significant improvements in all parameters between baseline and at six-months follow-up, including the change in mean score of depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, activity engagement and pain willingness (p<0.001).

“To further validate the role of ACT in the treatment of chronic pain, specifically in a rheumatology context, a randomised controlled clinical trial that includes measures of physical and social functioning within a Rheumatology service would be desirable,” said lead author Dr. Noirin Nealon Lennox from Ulster University in Northern Ireland.

ACT is a form of CBT that includes a specific therapeutic process referred to as “psychological flexibility”. ACT focuses on behaviour change consistent with patients’ core values rather than targeting symptom reduction alone. Evidence for this approach to the treatment of chronic pain has been mounting since the mid 2000’s. A previous systematic review had concluded that ACT is efficacious for enhancing physical function and decreasing distress among adults with chronic pain attending a pain rehabilitation programme.

In this study, patients were referred into the ACT programme by three consultant rheumatologists over a five-year period. Over one hundred patients’ outcome measures were available for a retrospective analysis.

Posted on Patient Talk

Vagus Nerve Exercises To Rewire Your Brain From Anxiety

Vagus Nerve Exercises To Rewire Your Brain From Anxiety - YouTube


In this video I show you three vagus nerve exercises to rewire your brain from anxiety. I also share what anxiety actually is (and the surprising reason why it’s good for you) as well as what to do when anxiety hits. Note: this content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, or as a substitute for the medical advice of a physician.

Posted on Mental health

How Breathing Exercises Can Help Anxiety

How Breathing Exercises Can Help Anxiety - YouTube


Bob interviews Patrick McKeown on How Breathing Can Affect Your Anxiety. Patrick McKeown is a international best-selling author of The Oxygen Advantage and creator and master instructor of the Oxygen Advantage® technique, Patrick McKeown is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading breathing re-education experts. Over the past two decades, Patrick has trained thousands of people around the world to safely challenge their bodies and produce positive changes through breathing re-education. He teaches a new way to breathe, combined with specific exercises designed to improve blood chemistry. The result is an increase of oxygen flow to all the body’s systems, meaning greater endurance, strength and power.



Posted on Mental health

How to cope with anxiety

How To COPE With ANXIETY - Olivia Remes Motivational Video 2020 - YouTube


Anxiety is one of most prevalent mental health disorders, with 1 out of 14 people around the world being likely affected. Leading up to conditions such as depression, increased risk for suicide, disability and requirement of high health services, very few people who often need treatment actually receive it. In her talk “How to cope with anxiety”, Olivia Remes of the University of Cambridge will share her vision on anxiety and will unravel ways to treat and manage this health disorder.


Arguing that treatments such as psychotherapy and medication exist and often result in poor outcome and high rates of relapses, she will emphasise the importance of harnessing strength in ourselves as we modify our problem-coping mechanisms. Olivia will stress that by allowing ourselves to believe that what happens in life is comprehensive, meaningful, and manageable, one can significantly improve their risk of developing anxiety disorders.