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CompletedNCT04699370Updated Jun 8, 2021

The Added Value of Cognition-targeted Exercise Versus Symptom-targeted Exercise for Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue

An interventional study of cognition-targeted exercise and Cognitive behavioral therapy in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, sponsored by Cairo University. Completed at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 30 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-06-08.

Sponsored by Cairo University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
30 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a wide range of physiological and neuropsychological symptoms. Over 75% of MS patients complain about fatigue, which for many is one of their most debilitating symptoms, having a substantial impact on their quality of life and ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Previous investigations on the effectiveness of different types of psychotherapy on MS fatigue are extremely limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the added value of cognition-targeted exercise versus symptom-targeted exercise for Multiple Sclerosis fatigue

Read the detailed description

Patients with fatigue symptoms (score of ≥5 on Fatigue Scale) will be randomly assigned into experimental (n=30) and control (n=30) groups. The subjects in the experimental group will receive eight 50-minute sessions of weekly cognitive behavior therapy based on van Kessel's model in addition cognition-targeted exercise program , whereas the patients in the control group will receive eight 50-minute sessions of weekly CBT in addition to standardized physiotherapy program . A standardized program of physiotherapy exercises will consist of twice-weekly supervised general aerobic, strengthening and flexibility exercise sessions. This exercise program is reflective of the general exercises typically undertaken within routine clinical practice.

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Conditions studied

  • Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

Keywords

  • Randomized controlled trial
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Fatigue
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • exercise
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In context

Multiple Sclerosis

3,460 studies on the registry are indexed under Multiple Sclerosis; 661 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 60 is above the median of 50 across 2,342 interventional studies indexed under Multiple Sclerosis.

Browse Multiple Sclerosis studies →

Lead sponsor

Cairo University is the lead sponsor of 4,780 studies on the registry; 1,427 are open to participants now.

Of its 36 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (14%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
30 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis by a neurologist which incorporate clinical features with magnetic resonance scanning.
  • Being within normal or average dysfunction and excluding those scoring ≤6 in the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS);
  • Being identified as a case level of fatigue; fatigue score of 4 or greater on the Fatigue Scale (FS);

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with any serious psychological disorders (including psychotic disorders or active substance abuse), or those with any chronic illness that may be contributing to fatigue were excluded.
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
60 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    cognition-targeted exercise

    The patients in this group will receive cognitive behavior therapy in addition to cognition-targeted exercise . Cognitive behavior therapy will be designed on the basis of van Kessel's model . The main objective of this treatment will be challenging all external factors (e.g. behavioral, cognitive, and affective factors) envisioned to play a role in the development and persistence of fatigue in MS patients. The treatment sessions will be directed individually. For Cognition- targeted exercise , all standardized physical therapy exercises will be performed in a time-contingent rather than in a symptom-contingent way .

    Other: cognition-targeted exercise · Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy

  • Active comparator
    symptom-targeted exercise

    The patients in this group will receive cognitive behavior therapy in addition to symptom-targeted exercise . Cognitive behavior therapy will be designed on the basis of van Kessel's model . The main objective of this treatment will be challenging all external factors (e.g. behavioral, cognitive, and affective factors) envisioned to play a role in the development and persistence of fatigue in MS patients. The treatment sessions will be directed individually. For symptom- targeted exercise, All Standardized physical therapy exercises will be performed in a symptom-contingent way ("Stop or adjust the exercise when it hurts").

    Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy · Other: Standardized physical therapy

Interventions

  • Othercognition-targeted exercise

    All Standardized physical therapy exercises will be performed in a time-contingent . Goal setting is essentially done together with the patient, focussing on functionality instead of fatigue relief. Progression to a next level of (more difficult) exercises will be preceded by an intermediate phase of motor imagery. The treating physical therapist will be advised to address patients' cognitions about their problems during the cognition-targeted exercise training, so that patients will have positive perceptions regarding their illness and treatment outcome. The treating physical therapist will be advised to discuss the patient's perceptions about each exercise. This include discussion of the anticipated consequences of the exercises and challenging the patient's cognitions in relation to the exercises

  • BehavioralCognitive behavioral therapy

    In the first and second sessions, patients will learn about fatigue-related symptoms as well as Cognitive behavioral therapy and its effectiveness. The third and fourth sessions will be devoted on the introduction of behavioral strategies. The fifth session will introduce cognitive strategies to decrease fatigue. The last three sessions will be about how to adopt the proposed strategies consistently.

  • OtherStandardized physical therapy

    The standardized physical therapy will consist of eight half-hour individualized face to face physiotherapy sessions, over a 4-week period. this program will consist of twice-weekly supervised general aerobic, strengthening and flexibility exercise sessions .This exercise program is reflective of the general exercises typically undertaken within routine clinical practice.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Modified Fatigue Impact Scale

    The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale is a modified form of the Fatigue Impact Scale based on items derived from interviews with MS patients concerning how fatigue impacts their lives. Items on the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale are aggregated into three subscales (physical, cognitive, and psychosocial), as well as into a total Modified Fatigue Impact Scale score. All items are scaled so that higher scores indicate a greater impact of fatigue on a person's activities.

    Time frame: pre-treatment , at 4-week,and after three months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Work and Social Adjustment Scale

    The Work and Social Adjustment Scale , which assessed fatigue-related impairment in relation to a number of areas of the person's life. The maximum score is 40 .lower score is better

    Time frame: pre-treatment , at 4-week,and after three months

  2. Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

    The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale , a commonly used self-report instrument for detecting states of depression and anxiety in patients with medical illnesses. scores of less than 7 indicate non-cases and high scores indicate more anxiety and depression

    Time frame: pre-treatment , at 4-week,and after three months

  3. Change in Perceived Stress Scale

    the Perceived Stress Scale will be included to assess whether the degree to which patients appraised situations in their lives as stressful changed after the intervention. Individual scores on the Perceived Stress Scale can range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.

    Time frame: pre-treatment , at 4-week,and after three months

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Study locations

1 site
  • Cairo University
    Giza, 12613, Egypt
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References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — no plan to make individual participant data (IPD) available to other researchers

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 8, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04699370
Lead sponsor
Cairo University
Responsible party
Ibrahim Moustafa (Associate professor, Cairo University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jan 7, 2021
Start date
Jan 1, 2021
Primary completion
Feb 20, 2021
Completion
Jun 4, 2021
Last update
Jun 8, 2021

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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