Pragmatics of the trial and house keeping (6 hours) | • Line management and orientation to the units |
 | • Record keeping for the trial, general paperwork, keeping patient notes and writing GP letters |
Understanding MS: (6.5 hours) | • Introduction to MS including the pathogenesis of the disease, types of MS, symptoms and medical treatment |
 | • Understanding adjustment to MS and introduction to the CBT model and manual |
 | • The role of partners and family members |
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (32.5 hours) | • Introduction to Beck's systems model of CBT |
 | • Introduction to CBT, psychological therapies, and psychiatric diagnosis |
 | • Process of treatment and how change takes place over time |
 | • Assessment, conceptualization and formulation in CBT |
 | • Supervision and how to use it |
 | • Exploring the nurse-therapists' personal beliefs and assumptions |
 | • Motivational Interviewing Skills |
 | • Setting homework |
 | • Overview of anxiety and depression, including prevalence and diagnostic criteria. |
 | • Emotional processing and how to facilitate it. |
 | • Psychiatric emergencies and risk assessment |
 | • Identifying MS specific cognitions |
 | • How to use thought records to link, thoughts, behaviors and emotions |
 | • Challenging unhelpful thoughts |
 | • How to deal with patients "realistic" negative thoughts |
 | • Behavioral Activation and behavioral experiments |
 | • Problem solving |
 | • Dealing with resistance |
 | • Dealing with hopelessness |
Supportive Listening (13 hours) | • Introduction to therapist and patient manuals |
 | • Issues around housekeeping |
 | • Introduction to concepts of unconditional regard, warmth and empathy |
 | • Describing the active listening techniques |
 | • Facilitator demonstration of techniques |
 | • Nurse role play using MS case studies |
 | • Nurse role play using a personally relevant difficult or painful situation |
 | • Practice and feedback using the variety of techniques |