Enhancing Self-Esteem in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomised Controlled Trial of the Lexical Association Technique

RATIONALE This research project aims to test the effectiveness of a therapeutic technique-the Lexical Association Technique (LAT) - to improve self-esteem in patients recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), whether relapsing-remitting (RRMS) or secondary progressive (SPMS). As with many chronic illnesses, self-esteem is significantly impacted by the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Patients tend to report markedly lower self-esteem compared to the general population (Sarısoy et al., 2013; M.-C. Gay et al., 2010; McCabe, 2005; Nosek et al., 2003; Walsh \& Walsh, 1989). Yet self-esteem has been identified as a resilience factor (Black \& Dorstyn, 2015) and has been associated with maintaining quality of life (Gil-González et al., 2020; Mikula et al., 2017), better treatment adherence (Wilski \& Tasiemski, 2016), and lower levels of perceived stress (Ifantopoulou et al., 2015). High self-esteem is also linked to various clinical benefits, such as reduced somatic symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, and social dysfunction (Mikula et al., 2021). Additionally, research has established links between low self-esteem and both anxiety and depressive symptoms (Sowislo \& Orth, 2013). Altogether, these findings support the relevance of incorporating therapeutic protocols that aim to enhance self-esteem into the care of people with MS. The Lexical Association Technique (LAT), developed by Niveau, New, and Beaudoin in 2021, seeks to boost self-esteem by reinforcing associations between positive self-attributes and mental imagery that illustrate possession of those qualities. Its efficacy has already been demonstrated through three randomized clinical trials (Niveau et al., 2022; Niveau et al., 2023). Compared to other self-esteem enhancement techniques like CBT or reminiscence therapy, this protocol has several advantages: it requires minimal time and cognitive resources. Moreover, LAT exercises can be done at home on a personal computer, making it an accessible and low-cost tool for patients. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE As this technique aims to enhance participants' self-esteem, we expect to replicate the findings of the two initial LAT studies, with higher self-esteem scores at the end of the therapeutic protocol in the experimental group compared to the active control group. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES The secondary objective of this study is to assess potential clinical benefits that improved self-esteem may bring in terms of psychological well-being and prevention of psycho-social risks associated with the MS diagnosis. The protocol includes measures to evaluate how increased self-esteem might impact quality of life, perceived self-efficacy, adjustment to illness, perceived stress levels, and self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. METHODOLOGY This is a therapeutic effectiveness study, monocentric, interventional, prospective, controlled, and randomized, conducted under double-blind conditions. The 160 participants will be allocated using a minimization protocol into one of two groups: an experimental group using LAT and an active control group performing similar visualizations with no direct connection to the self. Self-esteem will be measured at multiple time points (before, after, and up to 14 days after the intervention) to assess both immediate and lasting effects of the technique. POPULATION The study will include two patient samples: one composed of patients recently diagnosed with RRMS, and another of patients recently diagnosed with SPMS. A total of 160 patients will be included in the study (80 with RRMS and 80 with SPMS). EXPECTED OUTCOMES This project could help demonstrate the efficacy of a therapeutic tool that healthcare professionals could offer to patients in order to strengthen their psychological resources during critical periods when psycho-social disorders are likely to emerge and become entrenched.