Identifying and Managing Psychological Distress in Multiple Sclerosis: The COMPASS-MS Study

You may be eligible if

• Patients will be eligible for inclusion for the COMPASS-MS intervention if they are:
• 1. Aged ≥18 years
• 2. Have a diagnosis of MS.
• 3. Speak English to a sufficiently high standard to allow them to interact with digital CBT programmes.
• 4. Have access to a computer and email account to allow them to register with the digital CBT programme, and a basic understanding of internet use.
• 5. Presence of depression and/or anxiety and/or psychological distress evidenced by:
• i. A score of ≥ 5 on the nine item self-report measure of depression: PHQ-9 (Kroenke et al., 2001) AND/OR ii. A score of ≥ 5 on the seven item self-report measure of anxiety: GAD-7 (Spitzer et al., 2006).
• OR iii. A score of ≥ 10 on the composite measure of depression and anxiety PHQ-ADS (Kroenke et al., 2016).
• AND iv. Distress is related to their MS (i.e. answer "yes" or "sometimes" to "Is your distress linked to your MS?"
• The below eligibility criteria apply to HCPs who have experience in engaging with COMPASS-MS care pathways at King's College Hospital (KCH).
• Healthcare providers (HCPs) will be eligible for inclusion if they meet all or any of the below criteria:
• 1. Work in the Neurology Service at KCH providing care to PwMS
• 2. Have experience of either: i) Assessing and triaging patients for psychological distress and/or ii) Providing therapist support to the users of COMPASS-MS.
• 3. Work in or alongside KCH who are implementing: i) Routine mental health screening ii) COMPASS digital CBT (e.g. pharmacy/physiotherapy commissioning bodies).
• Key Stakeholders from Neurology services external to KCH will be invited to take part in an interview if they meet all or any of the below criteria:
• 1. Work in a Neurology Service in England including both inpatient services and MS therapy centres.
• 2. Have direct patient experience with working with PwMS (e.g. Neurologist, Doctor, Nurse, Reception)
• 3. Work alongside a Neurology services in England and are involved in the care of PwMS (e.g. pharmacy/physiotherapy/commissioning bodies).