Dawn Ehde, PhD, has been awarded a $200,000 grant by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The grant will be distributed over two years for the project “My MS Toolkit: An Internet-Based Depression Self-Management Program for Adults Living with Multiple Sclerosis,” starting July 1, 2025. Dr. Ehde is a neuropsychologist and professor in the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, and she holds the Nancy & Buster Alvord Endowed Professorship in Multiple Sclerosis Research.
The project builds on the existing My MS Toolkit, a free web-based self-management program for MS-related pain, fatigue, and mood. The Toolkit is adapted from an evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy self-management intervention focused on improving pain, fatigue, and/or depressive symptoms in people with MS. Pilot study results show that the current Toolkit is highly accessible and well-received. Right after treatment, improvements were felt in 38% of participants for fatigue, 46% for pain interference, and 40% for depressive symptoms. Despite these successes, the Toolkit does not provide specific self-management strategies for depression.
This new project will address that gap by adding a depression-specific module. The updates will include self-assessment tools, depression self-management skills, tailored resources, and guidance on accessing mental health care. The UW MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Research Center’s Community Advisory Board, which includes people living with MS from diverse backgrounds, will offer feedback to ensure that materials are relevant to a wide variety of people with MS.
The depression-specific module will be tested with a randomized controlled trial with 110 participants with depression. The trial will compare people using the enhanced My MS Toolkit compared to a control group of people on a waitlist. The study will assess whether the new tools help improve depression symptoms, fatigue, pain, sleep, and daily functioning.
Up to 50% of adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience depression, but access to effective mental health treatment is often limited due to provider shortages, poor insurance coverage, and other barriers. Research shows that self-management strategies can help individuals reduce depressive symptoms. These programs teach skills like symptom monitoring, personalized coping techniques, effective communication with healthcare providers, and how to access helpful resources. The updated Toolkit will help to provide these tools and strategies to people with MS.