Dr. Fred Foley's Lab
The Psychology of Multiple Sclerosis
We received a pilot grant from the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers to create a multidisciplinary consultation behavioral intervention to treat sexual dysfunction for couples affected by MS and to test it in a randomized control trial. 25 couples will complete the two session intervention and the 25 people in the control group will receive published educational materials on sexual dysfunction andMS.
Current and Ongoing Research Projects
The lab has a number of neuropsychological studies focusing on MS. Current studies include the development of reliable and valid brief screening tools to detect cognitive impairments in MS. In addition, the lab is focusing on evaluating relationships between cognitive functioning and physical functioning, as well as physical risks, such as risk of falling. There are also projects evaluating subjective and objective measures of cognitive fatigue in MS, as well as projects focusing on the meaning of variability of test performance in persons with MS. Other recent projects are evaluating relationships between cognitive function and various types of psychopathology.
The Relationship between Intra-Individual Cognitive Variability and Motor Function in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
The primary aim of this study is to examine the relationship between intra-individual across-neuropsychological test cognitive variability, walking speed, and self-reported history of falls in individuals with MS. A secondary aim is to compare intra-individual across-neuropsychological test cognitive variability and overall cognitive functioning as assessed by the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis in relation to walking speed and self-reported history of falls in individuals with MS.​
A Brief Multidisciplinary Consultation Intervention for TreatingSexual Dysfunction in MS
Neuropsychology Database
Natural History of Depression Study
The lab has a series of studies evaluating the natural history of depression and anxiety in MS. Over 700 patients have been enrolled in this longitudinal study. Demographic and disease related factors related to depression risk, severity, suicidality, persistance, and remission are being studied in this project. There are also ongoing studies focusing on disease intrusiveness and quality of life.
A Comparison of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test for Assessing Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis
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The D-KEFS and WCST are widely used to evaluate executive functioning in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The D-KEFS is part of the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS, but it is unclear how this test compares in effectiveness to the WCST. This project will examine the specificity and sensitivity of the tests in identifying executive functioning impairments for MS.
Level of Gender Conformity and Sexual Dysfunction in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
The aim of our research is to gain a better understanding of the predictors of sexual dysfunction in MS, a highly prevalent yet often overlooked symptom of MS. We plan to evaluate the relationship between one’s level of conformity to their classic gender role and sexual dysfunction in MS.