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Multiple sclerosis is a neurological condition that can have a substantial impact on well-being. In a previous study, men with multiple sclerosis exhibited significantly higher intimacy-related illness intrusiveness, even after considering age, disease severity, and depression. It was hypothesized a psychosocial intervention specific to intimacy could be beneficial; however, investigation was needed into useful strategies. This study initiated the first steps by assessing the associations between aspects of resiliency and intimacy-related illness intrusiveness in males with multiple sclerosis, and whether they could mediate the latter's relationship with depression. Primarily recruited through the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis Registry, 156 males with multiple sclerosis were included. A subscale from the Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale (IIRS) measured intimacy-related illness intrusiveness. Resiliency was measured with the Multiple Sclerosis Resiliency Scale (MSRS). Correlations were run between the IIRS and MSRS scores, and mediation analyses explored the MSRS' role in the relationship between depression and intimacy-related illness intrusiveness. Intimacy-related illness intrusiveness significantly correlated with overall resilience (r = − 0.34, p < 0.01), coping strategies (r = − 0.37, p < 0.01), support from family and friends (r = − 0.22, p < 0.01), and peer support (r = 0.18, p = 0.03). There was a significant indirect effect of depression on intimacy-related illness intrusiveness through coping strategies (b = 0.24, p = 0.01), representing a medium effect (Rmed2 = 0.10). Findings are consistent with previous research using cognitive strategies to address intimacy issues in multiple sclerosis. Follow-up qualitative research may elucidate what is driving associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: While resilience has been an area of increasing research, there are no measures that are specific to the psychological, social, and physical factors associated with resilience in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). This study aimed to develop the MS Resiliency Scale (MSRS), a multidimensional measure. Items were created based on a review of the literature, with five hypothesized subscales, and then evaluated in a large sample of PwMS. Method: Participants (N = 932) were primarily recruited through the North American Research Committee on MS (NARCOMS) and completed the study electronically. Principal components analysis was utilized to determine the number of factors and whether they aligned with the theorized model. Results: Using an unforced solution with oblique (promax) rotation and Kaiser normalization, and suppressing items with coefficients below 0.4, 25 items were retained in five subscales that accounted for 42.75% of the variance: Emotional and Cognitive Strategies (13 items; α = .92), Physical Activity and Diet (3 items; α = .77), MS Peer Support (2 items; α = .82), Support from Family and Friends (5 items; α = .79), and Spirituality (2 items; α = .91). The total score was negatively correlated with depression, r = -.72, p < .001 and anxiety, r = -.56, p < .001. Implications: The 25-item MSRS assesses several psychological, social, and physical factors associated with resilience in PwMS, and may be a helpful tool in identifying individuals in need of additional assistance or support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cognitive dysfunction is prevalent in multiple sclerosis. As self-reported cognitive functioning is unreliable, brief objective screening measures are needed. Utilizing widely used full-length neuropsychological tests, this study aimed to establish the criterion validity of highly abbreviated versions of the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test – Revised (BVMT-R), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) Sorting Test, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) in order to begin developing an MS-specific screening battery.Method: Participants from Holy Name Medical Center and the Kessler Foundation were administered one or more of these four measures. Using test-specific criterion to identify impairment at both −1.5 and −2.0SD, receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analyses of BVMT-R Trial 1, Trial 2, and Trial 1 + 2 raw data (N = 286) were run to calculate the classification accuracy of the abbreviated version, as well as the sensitivity and specificity. The same methods were used for SDMT 30-s and 60-s (N = 321), D-KEFS Sorting Free Card Sort 1 (N = 120), and COWAT lettersFandA(N = 298).Results: Using these definitions of impairment, each analysis yielded high classification accuracy (89.3 to 94.3%).Conclusions: BVMT-R Trial 1, SDMT 30-s, D-KEFS Free Card Sort 1, and COWATFpossess good criterion validity in detecting impairment on their respective overall measure, capturing much of the same information as the full version. Along with the first two trials of the California Verbal Learning Test – Second Edition (CVLT-II), these five highly abbreviated measures may be used to develop a brief screening battery. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]