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NCT Number: NCT07064291

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

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether the Lexical Association Technique (LAT) can improve well-being in people recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), either relapsing-remitting (RRMS) or secondary progressive (SPMS).

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does the LAT increase well-being more than a placebo technique ? * Does this technique help reduce psychological distress and improve quality of life ?

Participants will:

* Be randomly assigned to either the LAT group or the active control group * Complete short visualization exercises at home using a personal computer * Fill out questionnaires about self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and adjustment to illness * Take part in the study over several weeks, with assessments before, after, and 14 days after the intervention

Researchers will compare results between the two groups (LAT group vs. Control group) to test the immediate and lasting effects of the LAT.

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Key information

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Behavior Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Demyelinating Diseases Immune System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Personal Satisfaction Psychological Well-Being Quality of Life (QOL)

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

CHU Grenoble Alpes

Grenoble, 38043, France

Location contact

Mathieu VAILLANT, PH

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Native French speaker
  • Access to a computer and internet connection at home
  • Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis according to the revised criteria of Thompson et al. (2018), either relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive form, between 1 and 5 years since disease onset (RRMS or SPMS entry phase)
  • Currently receiving first- or second-line oral treatment (e.g., Teriflunomide, Dimethylfumarate, Fingolimod, Cladribine)
  • Adult participants (age ≥ 18)

NON-INCLUSION CRITERIA

  • Participant currently excluded from another study
  • Individuals covered by Articles L1121-5 to L1121-8 of the French Public Health Code (CSP), i.e., legally protected persons: pregnant women, women in labor, breastfeeding mothers, individuals deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision, individuals under psychiatric care under Articles L.3212-1 and L.3213-1 not falling under Article L.1121-8, individuals admitted to healthcare or social institutions for reasons other than research, minors, individuals under legal protection or unable to provide informed consent
  • Staff members with a hierarchical link to the principal investigator

SECONDARY EXCLUSION CRITERIA

  • Participants not presenting with low self-esteem, i.e., score >26 on the Self-Esteem Scale (EES; Vallières & Vallerand, 1990)
  • Major life event significantly affecting well-being in the two weeks prior to study inclusion (e.g., bereavement, separation, childbirth, etc.)
  • Initiation of psychological, psychiatric, or pharmacological treatment (anxiolytics, antidepressants) within one month prior to study start

Treatment and study plan

The Lexical Association Technique (LAT)

Other

The Lexical Association Technique (LAT) was developed by Niveau, New, and Beaudoin in 2021 (Niveau et al., 2022). It is grounded in principles of memory functioning described in the cognitive psychology literature, particularly the theoretical framework of the Self-Memory System proposed by Conway (2000, 2005).

The technique aims to enhance self-esteem by strengthening associative links between the self and positively valenced concepts stored in memory. To achieve this, it relies on the repeated mental visualization of positive autobiographical episodes paired with positive self-referential linguistic statements.

The effectiveness of this technique in increasing self-esteem has been demonstrated and replicated across three studies, conducted with distinct samples: two involving healthy participants and one involving a clinical sample of individuals with a chronic illness (Niveau et al., 2022, 2023).

Placebo of the Lexical Association Technique

Other

The active control condition is based on the same procedural structure as the Lexical Association Technique (LAT), but without the core therapeutic component - the self-referential content. Participants in the control group are exposed to a series of positive statements, similar in form and valence to those used in the LAT, but referring to others (e.g., generic social roles or entities such as teachers, pharmacists, or animals) rather than the self.

Like in the LAT condition, participants are asked to generate mental imagery based on each statement, visualizing a corresponding positive episodic event. This ensures that the control task involves the same cognitive mechanisms (episodic memory retrieval, positive visualization, and sustained attention), while excluding the specific associative link to the self that constitutes the active ingredient of the intervention.

This control condition was designed to match the LAT in terms of structure, cognitive demand, and duration, and has be

Primary outcomes

  1. Effect of the therapeutic technique on patients' self-esteem assessed by comparing patients score at the RSES between the experimental and active control group after the procedure.

    Time frame: The primary endpoint is defined as the difference in self-esteem scores measured on the day following the completion of the LAT or control procedure (post-test), that is, 14 days (±2 days) after the participant's enrollment in the study.

    The primary outcome focuses on the effect of the Lexical Association Technique (LAT) on self-esteem following the procedure. The benefits will be assessed by comparing scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) between the experimental and active control groups at post-test.

    The RSES is a self-report measure of self-esteem, composed of 10 statements related to personal worth and self-acceptance (e.g., "I have a positive attitude toward myself"). Participants indicate their level of agreement using a four-point Likert scale ranging from 1 = Strongly Agree to 4 = Strongly Disagree, with total scores ranging from 10 to 40. The RSES is the most widely used and validated self-esteem questionnaire in psychological research, and has been adapted and validated in French (Self-Esteem Scale; Vallieres & Vallerand, 1990).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Durability of the effects on patients' self-esteem assessed by comparing patients score at the RSES between the experimental and active control group at distance from the end of the procedure.

    Time frame: To assess durability, self-esteem will be measured 3, 7, and 14 days (±2) after the end of the LAT or control procedure. These follow-ups aim to determine whether the technique's effects persist beyond the immediate post-test period.

    The benefits will be assessed by comparing the evolution of scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) between the experimental and active control groups at temporal distance from the end of the end of the LAT or control protocol, using three additional time points : 3 days (±2 day) after the intervention (Retest Day 3), 7 days (±2 day) after the intervention (Retest Day 7), and 14 days (±2 days) after the intervention (Retest Day 14).

    The RSES is a self-report measure of self-esteem, composed of 10 statements related to personal worth and self-acceptance (e.g., "I have a positive attitude toward myself"). Participants indicate their level of agreement using a four-point Likert scale ranging from 1 = Strongly Agree to 4 = Strongly Disagree, with total scores ranging from 10 to 40. The RSES is the most widely used and validated self-esteem questionnaire in psychological research, and has been adapted and validated in French (Self-Esteem Scale; Vallieres & Vallerand, 1990).

  2. Effects on quality of life assessed by comparing the evolution of scores on the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire (MusiQoL) between the experimental and active control groups at distance from the end of the procedure.

    Time frame: To assess whether self-esteem enhancement affects quality of life, MusiQoL scores will be collected at pre-test, post-test, then 7 and 14 days (±2) after the intervention, to analyze group trajectories and detect delayed effects.

    The effects will be measured by comparing the evolution of scores on the French version of the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire (MusiQoL; Baumstarck-Barrau et al., 2011) between our experimental condition. This 31-item questionnaire assesses nine dimensions of quality of life: activities of daily living, psychological well-being, friendships, symptoms, family relationships, interactions with the healthcare system, sexual and sentimental life, coping, and rejection. Items are rated on Likert-type scales and a global normalized score is calculated, ranging from 0 (low quality of life) to 100 (high quality of life).The French version was validated in a population of patients with MS (primarily RRMS and SPMS), demonstrating good internal consistency, external validity, and reproducibility (Baumstarck-Barrau et al., 2011; Simeoni et al., 2008).

  3. Effects of the procedure on self-efficacy assessed by comparing the evolution of patients' scores on the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) between the experimental and active control groups at distance from the end of the procedure.

    Time frame: To explore effects on self-efficacy, GSE scores will be measured at pre-test, post-test, then 7 and 14 days (±2) after the LAT or control procedure. These follow-ups will help compare the progression across groups over time.

    The effects will be measured by comparing the evolution of scores on the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE; Saleh et al., 2016; Dumont et al., 2000) between our experimental condition.

    This 10-item scale, initially developed by Jerusalem & Schwarzer (1995), measures the belief in one's own capacity to manage various life situations and overcome adversity in 10 items, each rated on a Likert scale. The total score ranges from 10 (low self-efficacy) to 40 (high self-efficacy). The French version (Dumont et al., 2000) has shown good psychometric properties, including internal consistency, external validity, and test-retest reliability (Saleh et al., 2016; Scholz et al., 2002).

  4. Effects on illness adaptation assessed by comparing the evolution of patients' scores on the Coping with Health Injuries and Problems questionnaire (CHIP) between the experimental and active control groups at distance from the end of the procedure.

    Time frame: CHIP scores will be assessed at pre-test, post-test, then 7 and 14 days (±2) after the intervention to examine whether self-esteem enhancement improves illness adaptation and whether the groups differ in their coping trajectories.

    The effects will be measured by comparing the evolution of scores on the Coping with Health Injuries and Problems questionnaire (CHIP; Montel & Bungener, 2010) between our experimental condition.

    The French version of this 24-item scale evaluates coping strategies specific to chronic illness across six dimensions: emotional regulation, well-being/self-care, distraction, information seeking, palliative coping, and avoidance. Each dimension is scored on a Likert scale, with normalized dimension scores ranging from 0 (low) to 100 (high). The French version was validated in populations with chronic illnesses (including MS), it shows good internal consistency and reliability (Montel & Bungener, 2010; Endler et al., 1998).

  5. Effects of the procedure on depressive symptoms assessed by comparing the evolution of patients' scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) between the experimental and active control groups at distance from the end of the

    Time frame: To explore potential effects on depressive symptoms, CES-D scores will be collected at pre-test, post-test, than 7 and 14 days (±2) after the LAT or control procedure, to assess whether symptom reduction differs by group.

    The effects will be measured by comparing the evolution of scores on the French version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Fuhrer & Rouillon, 1989) between our experimental condition.

    The CES-D is a 20-item self-report measure assessing depressive symptom severity based on their frequency. Initially developed by Radloff (1977), it was translated and validated in French by Fuhrer & Rouillon for both general and psychiatric populations. The total score ranges from 0 (low depressive symptoms) to 60 (high depressive symptoms). Psychometric evaluations have demonstrated strong internal and external validity as well as high internal consistency.

  6. Effects on trait anxiety assessed by comparing the evolution of patients' scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - Trait subscale (STAI-Y B) between the experimental and active control groups at distance from the end of the procedure.

    Time frame: To test effects on trait anxiety, STAI-Y B scores will be measured at pre-test, post-test, then 7 and 14 days (±2) after the intervention. These time points will be used to compare changes between the two groups.

    The effects will be measured by comparing the evolution of scores on the French version of the Trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y B; Gauthier & Bouchard, 1993) between our experimental condition.

    This inventory contains two 20-item subscales: state anxiety (STAI-Y A) and trait anxiety (STAI-Y B). Each item is rated on a frequency-based Likert scale.

    The total score ranges from 20 (low trait anxiety) to 80 (high trait anxiety). Only the trait form will be used in this study to assess chronic anxiety outside of situational stress. The French version, adapted from Spielberger's revised STAI-Y (1983), has shown strong internal and external validity as well as good sensitivity (Gauthier & Bouchard, 1993).

  7. Effects of the procedure on perceived stress assessed by comparing the evolution of patients' scores on the Perceived Stress Scale - 10 items (PSS-10) between the experimental and active control groups at distance from the end of the procedure.

    Time frame: PSS-10 scores will be collected at pre-test, post-test, then 7 and 14 days (±2) after the LAT or control procedure, to evaluate whether perceived stress evolves differently between the experimental and control conditions.

    The effects will be measured by comparing the evolution of scores on the French version of the Perceived Stress Scale - 10 items (PSS-10; Lesage et al., 2012) between our experimental condition.

    Originally developed by Cohen et al. (1983), the PSS-10 assesses the degree to which individuals perceive their life as stressful. Each item is rated on a frequency-based Likert scale. The total score ranges from 10 (low perceived stress) to 40 (high perceived stress). The French version, validated by Lesage et al. (2012), demonstrated strong psychometric properties, including good internal consistency and construct validity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Grenoble

Other

Collaborators

  • Laboratoire de Psychologie et NeuroCognition
  • Laboratoire interuniversitaire de psychologie : personnalité, cognition et changement social - LIP-PC2S

Registry information

Official study title

Améliorer l'Estime de Soi Des Patients Atteints de sclérose en Plaques : Test d'efficacité de la Technique d'Association Lexicale

Acronym: SE-P-MS

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jul 14, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 14, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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