A randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavior therapy for multiple sclerosis fatigue

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Current treatments for MS fatigue have varying degrees of effectiveness.
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has shown promise in managing chronic fatigue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of CBT in treating fatigue among patients with MS.
• To compare CBT with relaxation training (RT) as a control for therapist time and attention.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 72 MS patients with fatigue.
• Eight weekly sessions of either CBT or RT.
• Assessment of fatigue, stress, mood, and impairment at baseline, post-treatment, and at 3 and 6 months.

Main Results:

• The CBT group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in fatigue over 8 months compared to the RT group (p < .02).
• Effect sizes for fatigue reduction were larger for CBT (3.03) than for RT (1.83).
• Both groups achieved clinically significant reductions in fatigue, reaching levels comparable to a healthy comparison group.

Conclusions:

• CBT is a clinically effective treatment for MS fatigue, offering greater benefits than RT.
• Both CBT and RT provide sustained improvements in fatigue levels for MS patients up to 6 months post-treatment.
• The findings support the use of CBT as a valuable therapeutic option for managing MS-related fatigue.