Mindfulness for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis

The investigators aim to assess if an MBI can reduce the negative impact of an MS diagnosis by improving coping skills. The investigator predicts that it will reduce perceived stress as well as stress markers in the blood, thus increasing overall QOL for newly diagnosed PwMS. In this study, the investigator will randomly assign newly diagnosed PwMS to either MBI or standard treatment. The investigator administers the MBI under the format of the Mindfulness Ambassador Council (MAC), which was developed by the non-profit organization, Mindfulness Without Borders (MWB, www.mindfulnesswithoutborders.org). This intervention will consist of group meetings led by a mindfulness coach once a week for an hour over 10 weeks. We will include in the study PwMS that have been diagnosed with RRMS within the last year. We will assess measures of coping, mood symptoms and QOL before the intervention, after 10 weeks (or equivalent time for the standard treatment group) and then again 6 months later, to ensure any benefit continues over time. First and foremost, PwMS will benefit from this type of research. This project could lead to a non-pharmacological, cost-effective intervention to help cope with the uncertainty that comes with an MS diagnosis as well as improves mood symptoms, psychosocial functioning and QOL, currently and over the long-term. Sharing the results of this study will be a priority for us. We will present our results at national and international meetings as well as submit for journal publication. We will share our findings with other health care practitioners and with the lay public through community presentations and possible media releases.