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Neuropsychological Training of Attention Improves MS-Related Fatigue: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled,
Peter Flachenecker1, Heike Meissner1, Rebecca Frey1,2
1Neurological Rehabilitation Center Quellenhof, Bad Wildbad, Germany.
Background:
Attentional deficits may be pathophysiologically relevant in MS-associated fatigue.
Patients And Methods:
Thirty MS patients with fatigue and attentional deficits in neuropsychological testing participated in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. The intervention group (IG; n = 14) was treated with 10 h of computerized, specific neuropsychological training performing simple reaction time tasks, whereas the control group (CG; n = 16) also runs through computerized, but unspecific neuropsychological training using tasks without time components. The subjective feeling of fatigue was assessed with the Würzburg Fatigue Inventory for Multiple Sclerosis (WEIMuS) questionnaire, and testing of alertness was used as an objective measure at baseline and after the 2-week study period.
Results:
Reaction times of alertness were significantly decreased in IG but not CG after 2 weeks. The subjective feeling of fatigue was ameliorated in both groups but more pronounced in IG. Effect sizes were below 0.7 for alertness and WEIMuS scores in CG but large and clinically meaningful in IG for both measures.
Conclusions:
Our pilot study suggests that neuropsychological training of attention may improve both measures of fatigue. The parallel improvement of attentional deficits and subjective fatigue after specific neuropsychological training support previous findings that fatigue may be at least partially caused by impaired intensity of attention.
Insights
Specific neuropsychological training targeting attention deficits significantly improved fatigue and alertness in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This suggests attention training is a viable approach for managing MS-related fatigue.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Attentional deficits are potentially linked to fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Understanding the pathophysiological relevance of attention is crucial for managing MS-associated fatigue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of specific neuropsychological training on attentional deficits and fatigue in MS patients.
- To determine if improving attention can ameliorate subjective and objective measures of fatigue.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial involving 30 MS patients with fatigue and attentional deficits.
- Intervention group (n=14) received 10 hours of computerized specific neuropsychological training focusing on reaction time tasks.
- Control group (n=16) received unspecific computerized training without time components.
Main Results:
- Significant improvement in reaction times (alertness) was observed in the intervention group, but not the control group.
- Subjective fatigue (WEIMuS scores) improved in both groups, with a more pronounced effect in the intervention group.
- Large, clinically meaningful effect sizes for both alertness and fatigue were found in the intervention group.
Conclusions:
- Computerized neuropsychological training targeting attention may improve both attentional deficits and fatigue in MS patients.
- The findings support the hypothesis that impaired attention intensity contributes to MS-associated fatigue.
- This pilot study highlights the potential of attention-focused interventions for managing MS-related fatigue.
