Understanding social and moral decision-making in people with Multiple Sclerosis

Social and Moral Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis

This study looks at how Multiple Sclerosis affects the way people make social and moral decisions to help improve support and treatment choices for patients aged 18 to 55.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 55 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Lille Catholic University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 2 sites (Lille and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06318923 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates how Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects social and moral cognition in patients aged 18 to 55. It focuses on understanding the decision-making processes of MS patients, particularly in relation to moral judgments and emotional responses. The study employs various assessments, including socio-demographic questionnaires, cognitive tests, and moral judgment tasks, to evaluate the cognitive and affective factors influencing these decisions. By examining these patterns, the research aims to inform better management strategies for MS patients, particularly in making treatment-related choices.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are men and women aged 18 to 55 with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis and specific cognitive functioning criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with severe cognitive impairment or significant neurological or psychiatric disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved decision-making support for MS patients, enhancing their quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While studies on cognitive functioning in MS exist, this specific focus on social and moral cognition is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Men or women aged 18 to 55.
* Understanding and able to express themselves in French.
* Characteristics according to groups:
* MS patient group:

  * relapsing-remitting form (RRMS)
  * with EDSS ≤ 4
  * with no significant motor, cerebellar or somesthesic disorders of the upper limbs or visual disorders (specific EDSS parameter ≤ 2)
  * absence of relapse in the last 6 weeks
* Control groups:

  * absence of known global cognitive deterioration.
* Understanding and signing of the informed consent and information letter concerning participation in the study.
* Beneficiary of health insurance coverage.

Exclusion Criteria:

* People with previous neurological pathologies, head trauma with loss of consciousness, known psychiatric pathologies (excluding anxiety-depressive syndrome), serious general illnesses, perceptual or dysarthric disorders preventing verbal communication or reading,
* Severe cognitive impairment in MS patients, i.e. an SDMT score \< -2.5 if the BICAMS battery is present in the patient's file and is less than 6 months old.
* Severe depressive syndrome, with a BDI-FS score \> 10
* People with sensory disorders (visual and auditory) that interfere with neuropsychological testing;
* Major sensory disorders or cerebellar syndrome
* Sensory deficits (visual or auditory)
* Treatment with psychotropic drugs
* Adults under guardianship, curatorship, persons deprived of liberty.
* Pregnant or breast-feeding women

Where this trial is running

Lille and 1 other locations

• Hôpital Saint-Vincent-de-Paul - Neurologie — Lille, France (Recruiting)
• Hôpital Saint-Philibert - Neurologie — Lomme, France (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Béatrice DEGRAEVE — Catholic University of Lille Faculty of Letters and Humanities
• Study coordinator: Marie Paule LEBITASY

Conditions Multiple Sclerosis