Behavior Cognitive Therapy on Fatigue Impact in MS Patients

Treatment tested

• Behavorial Cognitive Therapy (BCT)

Other measures (9)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to demyelination of the central nervous system. Fatigue is one of the most frequent and most disabling symptoms of MS. Up to 86% of individuals with MS experience fatigue at any one time; 65% consider it to be one of their three most troubling symptoms. Fatigue may limit or prevent participation in dayly activities and reduce psychological well-being (1, 2). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are available for MS-related fatigue, but evidence on effectiveness is mostly inconclusive or non-existent. The psychological approaches of fatigue management are interesting. To date, three RCTs using cognitive-behavioral group-based approaches in MS fatigue management programs have demonstrated their effectiveness (3-6). The results demonstrated a reduction in fatigue scores and better self-management of the disease in general. However, if these programs are effective at the time of their application and in the medium term, the issue of maintaining long-term therapeutic benefits is problematic. The aim of this research is to assess the effectiveness of the FACETS program (6), on a population of French patients with RRMS over a 18 month period. This program focuses on the management of fatigue and is based on a conceptual framework that incorporates elements of cognitive-behavioral, self-efficacy, self-management and energy effectiveness theories. It consists of six once-weekly sessions of 90 minutes, with homework activities between the sessions. It is designed for groups of 6 to 10 people. The investigators propose to add 4 booster sessions to the FACETS program, at week 6, 12, 18 et 36 after the end of the program, in order to activate and reinforce the cognitive and behavioral processes and enhance the benefits of FACETS in the longer term. This trial is randomized controlled comparative comparing a group receiving a FACETS program with a group receiving only a current local practice. Socio-demographic and medical data are measured as well as fatigue impact, fatigue severity, anxiety and depression, sleep disorder and quality of life. The expected results are a significantly greater decrease in fatigue severity and impact in the FACETS group than the control group post intervention and this difference will be maintained at 1 year.