Integrated Imaginative Distention Therapy to Cope with Fatigue. DIMMI SI Study: The First Randomized Controlled Trial...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in neurological diseases and stress-related conditions.
• Integrated Imaginative Distention (IID) is a relaxation therapy combining muscular and imaginative techniques.
• The DIMMI SI trial investigated the efficacy of IID in alleviating fatigue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of Integrated Imaginative Distention (IID) in reducing fatigue.
• To assess the impact of IID on secondary outcomes including insomnia, stress, and quality of life (QoL).

Main Methods:

• A parallel, randomized 1:1 controlled, open-label trial design.
• Participants included persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), persons with insomnia (pwINS), and health professionals (HP).
• Eight weekly group sessions of IID were administered over a 12-month study period.

Main Results:

• A significant reduction in fatigue was observed across all groups: pwMS (MFIS score change: 7.7), pwINS (7.1), and HP (11.3).
• Benefits were sustained at follow-up, particularly for physical fatigue in pwMS and overall fatigue in pwINS and HP.
• The primary outcome, change in fatigue, showed statistically significant improvements in all participant groups.

Conclusions:

• The DIMMI SI trial is the first randomized controlled trial to demonstrate the efficacy of IID for fatigue reduction.
• IID serves as a valuable complementary intervention for managing fatigue in both healthy individuals and those with stress-related health conditions.
• The findings support the use of IID as an accessible and effective non-pharmacological treatment for fatigue.