NCT07573241

Brief Summary

This observational study will examine what emotional, physical, and environmental factors make it easier or harder for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic pain to practice mindfulness daily while participating in a group-based Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program.

Trial Health

65
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
80

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable multiple-sclerosis

Timeline
24mo left

Started Jul 2026

Typical duration for not_applicable multiple-sclerosis

Status
not yet recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 1, 2026

Completed
6 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 7, 2026

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 1, 2026

Expected
1.5 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2027

6 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 30, 2028

Last Updated

May 7, 2026

Status Verified

May 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

1.5 years

First QC Date

May 1, 2026

Last Update Submit

May 1, 2026

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Daily Mindfulness Practice

    Whether a participant engaged in any formal (for example, sitting meditation) or informal (for example, mindfully engaging in a daily task) mindfulness practice since the last check-in, assessed via a single yes or now question delivered twice daily through the smartphone app. This will also be tracked passively by indicating whether participants accessed a guided meditation in the app itself.

    Twice daily for approximately 10 weeks (1 week before, 8 weeks during, and 1 week after the MBCT program)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Type of Mindfulness Practice

    Twice daily for approximately 10 weeks (1 week before, 8 weeks during, and 1 week after the MBCT program)

  • Quality of Mindfulness Practice

    Twice daily for approximately 10 weeks (1 week before, 8 weeks during, and 1 week after the MBCT program)

Other Outcomes (2)

  • Pain Intensity

    Pre-intervention and post-intervention (approximately 10 weeks apart)

  • Pain Interference

    Pre-intervention and post-intervention (approximately 10 weeks apart)

Study Arms (1)

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will attend eight, 2-hour group treatment MBCT sessions delivered using free video-conferencing technology. Groups will consist of 8-10 people who also have MS and chronic pain. Participants will be asked to practice skills learned in session between sessions. MBCT integrates mindfulness meditation practices within a CBT-oriented framework to address not only unhelpful pain cognitions and behaviors but also attentional control, decoupling of attention from emotion, mindful cognitions, and meditative behavior.

Behavioral: MBCT

Interventions

MBCTBEHAVIORAL

Participants will attend eight, 2-hour group treatment MBCT sessions delivered using free video-conferencing technology. Groups will consist of 8-10 people who also have MS and chronic pain. Participants will be asked to practice skills learned in session between sessions. MBCT integrates mindfulness meditation practices within a CBT-oriented framework to address not only unhelpful pain cognitions and behaviors but also attentional control, decoupling of attention from emotion, mindful cognitions, and meditative behavior.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Have an MS diagnosis of any subtype per record review
  • Average pain intensity in past week of at least moderate severity (\>3 on the 0-10 numerical rating scale)
  • Report pain \>50% of days in the past 6 months.
  • Are able to comply with study procedures and complete measures independently via self-report (on mobile phone)

You may not qualify if:

  • Less than 18 years of age
  • Score greater than 8 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale
  • Have significant cognitive impairment as indicated by 1 or more errors on the 6-item Cognitive Screener
  • Change in disease modifying medications in the past 3 months assessed via self-report (although participants will be considered eligible after the 3-month window)
  • History of MS relapse within the last 30 days prior to screening assessed via self-report (although participants will be considered eligible after the 3-month window)
  • Current suicidal ideation with intent or plan as indicated by a score of 1 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 suicide item and further assessment with the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (although individuals with suicidal ideation but no intent or plan will be considered eligible)
  • Currently engaged in psychotherapy for pain assessed via self-report
  • Currently have a "regular" mindfulness practice defined as \> 3 days per week assessed via self-report
  • Inability to read or speak English

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNSAutoimmune Diseases of the Nervous SystemNervous System DiseasesDemyelinating DiseasesAutoimmune DiseasesImmune System Diseases

Study Officials

  • Erin Mistretta, PhD

    University of Washington

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Erin G Mistretta, PhD

CONTACT

Dawn Ehde, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NA
Masking
NONE
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
SINGLE GROUP
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 1, 2026

First Posted

May 7, 2026

Study Start (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2028

Last Updated

May 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Upon publication, researchers may request a de-identified dataset containing all variables used in the published article. Requestors will receive the published article, a variable list with labels, and the dataset as an SPSS (.sav) file. Although data files will be stripped of identifiers prior to sharing, there remains a small risk that individuals with unusual combinations of characteristics could potentially be re-identified through deduction. To minimize this risk, the investigators will review each dataset prior to sharing and remove or collapse any variables that could increase re-identification risk.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
Time Frame
The data used for the analyses for any papers published will become available to interested researchers by request after that article is published. Those data will continue to be available for at least five years following the publication of the article.
Access Criteria
The investigators will make the data and associated documentation available to users only under a data-sharing agreement that provides for: (1) a commitment to using the data only for research purposes and not to identify any individual participant; (2) a commitment to securing the data using appropriate computer technology; and (3) a commitment to destroying or returning the data after analyses are completed.