The CoSMoS Pilot Trial CBT Software for the treatment of depression in people with Multiple Sclerosis

1
The CoSMoS Pilot Trial CBT Software for the
treatment of depression in people with Multiple
Sclerosis
Qualitative component Twenty people with
multiple sclerosis and mild or moderate
depression will be consented and allocated to one
of two computerised cognitive behavioural therapy
packages Beating The Blues or MoodGym. Views on
the acceptability and appropriateness of the
treatment will be collected during two
semi-structured interviews and from weekly
evaluation sheets. The transcribed texts will
form the basis for a framework analysis, which is
suitable for policy research. Feedback will be
provided to the software manufacturers who will
be able to make their software more appropriate
for people with multiple sclerosis.

• Aims
• To explore the acceptability and appropriateness
  of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy
  (CCBT) packages for the treatment of depression
  in people with MS and,
• To test the feasibility of undertaking a
  randomised controlled trial (RCT) to compare
  usual care with use of CCBT in depression for
  people with MS.

Background Half of all people with multiple
sclerosis experience major depression during the
course of their lifetime. Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy which has been
shown to be effective for treatment of
depression, generally and in multiple
sclerosis.1 However, access to CBT is very
limited, as there are too few therapists and many
patients are reluctant to enter face-to-face
therapy.2,3 RCT evidence demonstrates that a
particular computerised CBT (CCBT) package
Beating The Blues - is more effective for the
treatment of depression than standard (drug)
treatment,4,5 and is recommended for use in the
NHS.6 However CCBT has not been designed
specifically for use by, or evaluated in people
with multiple sclerosis and may not be
appropriate or effective for use by people with
physical disabilities and cognitive
symptoms.
The Team The study is led by researchers from
the University of Sheffield and the team includes
people with personal experience of MS, a
consultant neurologist and clinical
psychologists. Contact Principal Investigator
Cindy Cooper (c.l.cooper_at_sheffield.ac.uk)
Study Manager Daniel Hind (d.hind_at_sheffield.ac
.uk) ? 0114 222 0707 Administrator Karen Beck
(karen.beck_at_sheffield.ac.uk) ? 0114 222
0795 Trial Management Group Alicia OCathain,
Anita Rose, Claire Isaac. Patient
Representatives Leonie Martin, Ray Stonehill.
References 1. Siegert RJ, 2005. Depression in
multiple sclerosis a review. Journal of
Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry,
76469-79. 2. House of Commons Select Committee
on Health, 2000. Fourth Report on the Provision
of Mental Health Services. HM Stationary Office
London. 3. Shapiro DA, 2003. Geographical
Inequity in the Availability of Cognitive
Behavioural Therapy in England and Wales.
Behavioural Cognitive Psychotherapy,
31185-92. 4. Proudfoot, J. 2004. Clinical
efficacy of computerised cognitive behavioural
therapy for anxiety and depression in primary
care randomised control trial. British Journal
of Psychiatry, 18546-54. 5. Kaltenthaler E,
Brazier J, De Nigris E, Tumur I, Ferriter M,
Beverley C, Parry G, Rooney G, Sutcliffe P, 2006.
Computerised cognitive behaviour therapy for
depression and anxiety update a systematic
review and economic evaluation. Health Technology
Assessment, 10(33)1-168. 6. National Institute
for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2006.
Computerised cognitive behaviour therapy for
depression and anxiety Review of Technology
Appraisal 51. NICE London.