Psychological, Interpersonal and Social Functioning in MS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Psychological, Interpersonal and Social Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Theory of Mind
IRAS ID
250096
Contact name
Clara Calia
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 29 days
Research summary
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition which can cause a range of physical and cognitive symptoms. One cognitive ability which has been less studied is social cognition (SC). SC describes the skills required for an individual to engage in social interactions with other people (e.g. understanding how other people feel; empathizing with others). These skills are important in developing and maintaining relationships, and for adapting behaviour to social situations.
Theory of Mind (TOM) is one particular SC skill which describes an individual’s ability to understand that people have their own thoughts/ opinions/ beliefs which are different from their own. Individuals with MS have been shown to find this skill more difficult than those without MS; however, what we do not know is what impact this impairment has on other outcomes. Individuals with MS are more likely to experience symptoms of depression, report lower satisfaction in their relationships and engage less in social activities, however, we do not yet know if this is partly explained by difficulties in TOM. This study aims to answer this question by looking at how TOM impacts on psychological, social and interpersonal function in individuals with MS. This is important because if TOM in MS is better understood, future research can explore possible interventions to remediate SC in individuals with MS.
Individuals with MS, aged between 18 and 65 years, will be invited to take part in the study. They will be required to attend an outpatient clinic appointment, where they will complete a range of TOM, language and problem-solving tasks. Additionally, they will be asked to complete several questionnaires prior to their appointment, which will ask about their mood, relationship quality and social abilities. Individuals will be able to request a summary of the research findings, which will be sent out upon project completion.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
19/SS/0006
Date of REC Opinion
13 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion