The Relationships Between Personal Identity, Autobiographical Memory and Future Thinking in People With Multiple Sclerosis

NCT05648292 | Unknown DMC

• 1 other identifier: 2022-A00495-38
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Personal identity is composed of multiple facets of the self that are constructed and nourished through memories of past experiences (i.e., autobiographical memory) and the imagination of events that may occur in the future (i.e., future thinking) . While our previous work has shown that people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (pwRRMS) have autobiographical memory and future thought disorders, their impact on personal identity has not yet been explored. Based on a cognitive and clinical neuropsychology approach, this research project aims to better understand the cognitive mechanisms involved in the relationship between identity, autobiographical memory and future thinking in pwRRMS. We will examine the extent to which pwRRMS manage to maintain and reshape their identity through life experiences, with a particular interest in the potential integration of the disease as a facet of their identity. In addition, we will explore the positive and/or negative consequences of disease-related identity changes on emotional well-being and quality of life, as well as their links with the duration and severity of the disease. Overall, this research project will contribute to identify new therapeutic levers that can be used for the development of adapted and personalized care.

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting; Healthy Controls

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Relationships between personal identity, autobiographical memory and future thinking

  Scores obtained at the I AM and I WILL BE tasks assessing the access, qualitative properties of self-concepts, episodic richness and temporal organization of past and future events around self-concepts (between-group comparisons, pwRRMS versus control group)

  15 days

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Relationships between personal identity, psychological functioning and clinical characteristics

  15 days

Study Arms (2)

Clinical group

45 individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Behavioral: Neuropsychological tests and psychological questionnaires

Control group

45 individuals with no chronic disease, matched in age, gender and level of education

Behavioral: Neuropsychological tests and psychological questionnaires

Interventions

Neuropsychological tests and psychological questionnaires BEHAVIORAL

* The clinical group will complete: * the BCcogSEP: a comprehensive neuropsychological examination * the IAM and I WILL BE tasks; experimental neuropsychological tasks to assess autobiographical memory, future thinking and personal identity * A series of questionnaires including the BRIEF COPE, the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, which respectively assess coping strategies, resilience, life satisfaction and anxiety/depression * The control group will complete: * the IAM and I WILL BE tasks; experimental neuropsychological tasks to assess autobiographical memory, future thinking and personal identity * A series of questionnaires including the BRIEF COPE, the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, which respectively assess coping strategies, resilience, life satisfaction and anxiety/depression

Clinical group; Control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Primary care clinic

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS according to the McDonald's revised diagnostic criteria
• People aged between 18 and 55
• French native speaker
• Access to a computer or tablet, equipped with internet access, a camera and a microphone
• Form of MS other than the relapsing-remitting form
• Neurological history (other than MS for patients), history or current presence of psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia), substance abuse (e.g., alcohol, cannabis; past or present)
• Other diagnosed chronic pathology(ies) (other than MS for patients)
• Severe cognitive impairment
• Persons mentioned in Articles L1121-6 to L1121-8 in the French law (minors, persons deprived of liberty, adults subject to protective measures)
• For the control group:
• People aged between 18 and 55
• Matched in age, gender and level in education
• French native speaker
• Access to a computer or tablet, equipped with internet access, a camera and a microphone
• Neurological history (other than MS for patients), history or current presence of psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia), substance abuse (e.g., alcohol, cannabis; past or present)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centre d'Investigation Clinique et Technologique 805: lead
• University Paris 8 Vincennes Saint Denis: collaborator
• ARSEP foundation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Hopital Raymond Poincaré Garches

Garches, Hauts De Seine, 92380, France

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting

Interventions

Neuropsychological Tests

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Multiple Sclerosis; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Nervous System Diseases; Demyelinating Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Psychological Tests; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Alexandra ERNST, PhD

  Laboratoire DysCo - Université Paris 8

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Alexandra Ernst, PhD

CONTACT

+33628496210; aernst@univ-paris8.fr

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 15 Days
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 5, 2022
• First Posted: December 13, 2022
• Study Start: December 7, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 7, 2024
• Study Completion: June 7, 2025
• Last Updated: September 6, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FR (1)