Resilience in Young Adults Newly Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis
Resilience in Young Adults Newly Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis
This study aims to fill the gap of knowledge on the biopsychosocial (BPS) characteristics and
 resilience of young adults newly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, to evaluate the
 relationship among these variables, and to develop a BPS model of resilience.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological disease causing disability in young
 adults and is widely recognized as a major stress factor. Several studies have shown that the
 first years after the diagnosis are distressing in terms of adjustment to the disease and
 that MS negatively affects patients' psychological wellbeing, quality of life (QoL), and
 social functioning (Kern et al., 2013; Moss-Morris et al., 2013; Pagnini et al., 2014).
 Nevertheless, up to know, the link between disease-specific variables at diagnosis,
 resilience, and psychological adjustment of MS patients remains largely unexplored,
 especially in adolescents and young adults.

 This study aims to fill the gap of knowledge on the biopsychosocial (BPS) characteristics and
 resilience of young adults newly diagnosed with MS, to evaluate the relationship among these
 variables, and to develop a BPS model of resilience.

 Biological and clinical characteristics of young adults newly diagnosed with MS in the
 University Hospital of Verona will be investigated by collecting clinical information,
 performing neurological examinations, brain and cervical spinal cord magnet resonance imaging
 (MRI), and analyzing cerebrospinal fluid and blood biomarkers (i.e. measures of inflammation,
 axonal damage, oxidative stress and microRNAs (miRNAs) expression), body composition, gut
 microbiota, and movement/perceptual markers. Psychosocial characteristics (e.g.,
 psychological distress, illness perception, mindfulness trait, and coping strategies), QoL,
 psychological wellbeing and resilience will be assessed by self-report questionnaires.
 Comparative statistics (i.e., ANOVA or unpaired samples t-test, correlation and regression
 analyses) will be applied to evaluate the relationship among biological, psychological and
 social factors.

 The results of this study are expected not only to allow a comprehensive and new
 understanding of the determinants of resilience and adjustment in MS patients at this crucial
 stage of life but also to inform resilience interventions, tailored to adolescents' and young
 patients' specific needs, aiming to reduce the risk of maladaptive reactions to the disease
 and to improve the psychological well-being and their quality of life.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  MS diagnosis in the 2 years prior to study inclusion, according to the revised
 McDonald Criteria (Thompson et al., 2018);

 -  MRI of the brain in the 6 months prior to or within one month after screening visit
 according to a standardized protocol (including pre- and post-contrast volumetric
 T1-weighted, 3D Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR), and 3D Double Inversion
 Recovery (DIR) sequences for brain imaging, and sagittal and axial pre- and
 post-contrast volumetric T1-weighted, T2-weighted and short tau inversion recovery
 (STIR) sequences for spinal cord imaging)

 -  Italian speakers.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Clinically relevant cognitive deficits as evaluated by the treating neurologist

 -  Treatment with any disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for MS at inclusion and by
 completion of study procedures (maximum two months from consent); steroids
 administration up to 30 days prior to inclusion is allowed.