The Effectiveness of Lazarus Multimodal Approach on Psychological Distress, Working Memory, and Anxiety in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered a chronic disease in which physical and mental disorders are common among these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Lazarus multimodal approach intervention on psychological distress, working memory, and anxiety in patients with MS. Methods: A quasi-experimental research method with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up and a control group was used in this study. The statistical population of the study included the patients who were members of the "MS Patient Support Society" in Tehran who had been referred to this center during January and March 2017. The sample consisted of 32 people selected by the convenience sampling method from the members of the MS community. The data were obtained through the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10), the Wechsler’s Working Memory Index, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The experimental group underwent the Lazarus multimodal approach in ten 90-minute sessions of two sessions per week for one and a half months. The control group received no intervention. The follow-up was performed three months after the post-test. The repeated measurement method and SPSS 22 were used to analyze the data. Results: The findings showed that the Lazarus multimodal approach had a significant effect on decreasing anxiety (P<0.001), psychological distress (P<0.001), and increasing working memory (P<0.001). Conclusion: It can be concluded that Lazarus’ multimodal approach was effective on anxiety, psychological distress, and working memory and can be employed to reduce psychological problems in patients with MS.