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Multiple SclerosisNCT05848323

Prospective Case Series to Refine Standalone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Components for Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue

A study testing 4-week Relaxation Training, 4-week Behavioral Activation and 4-week Cognitive Therapy in people with Multiple Sclerosis and Fatigue, run by University of Washington at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This prospective case series will use mixed methods to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and initial effects of three telehealth cognitive behavioral therapy components (relaxation training, behavioral activation, cognitive therapy) for fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Multiple Sclerosis, Fatigue
What is being tested?
4-week Relaxation Training, 4-week Behavioral Activation and 4-week Cognitive Therapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
21 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
30 Oct 2023to 25 Sep 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • MS diagnosis of any subtype per chart review
  • Score 4 or higher on the Fatigue Severity Scale
  • Presence of chronic, problematic fatigue that, in the opinion of the patient, has interfered with their daily activities for 3 or more months
  • Are able to comply with study procedures and complete measures independently assessed via self-report
  • All genders
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Able to read and speak English
  • Are willing to maintain current fatigue treatment regimen for duration of study (although individuals who want to make a change to their fatigue treatment regimen will be considered eligible 3 months after making that change)

Who cannot join

  • Score greater than 7 on the Patient Determined Disease Steps Scale
  • Has significant cognitive impairment as indicated by 1 or more errors on the 6-item Cognitive Screener
  • Change in disease modifying medications in the prior three months assessed via self-report (although participants will be considered eligible after the 3-month window)
  • History of MS relapse within the last 30 days prior to screening assessed via self-report (although participants will be considered eligible after the 30-day window)
  • Current suicidal ideation with intent or plan as indicated by a score of 1 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 suicide item and further assessment with the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (although individuals with suicidal ideation but no intent or plan will be considered eligible)
  • Currently engaged in psychotherapy for fatigue assessed via self-report
  • Current pregnancy (although participants will be considered eligible when they are no longer pregnant)
  • Currently participating in another research study that could impact fatigue such as intervention studies targeting mood, energy management, exercise/physical activity, and diet (although participants can be screened for eligibility once they have completed the other research study).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Multiple Sclerosis Center at UW Medical Center - Northwest

    Seattle, Washington, 98133

Other trials in United States

About this study

This prospective case series will use mixed methods to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and initial effects of three telehealth cognitive behavioral therapy components (relaxation training, behavioral activation, cognitive therapy) for fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis.

Read the detailed description

Fatigue affects 80% of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), and nearly half report fatigue as their most disabling symptom. The cognitive behavioral model of MS fatigue theorizes that MS disease factors trigger fatigue, but fatigue is maintained or worsened by factors like daily stress and how PwMS react cognitively, behaviorally, physiologically, and emotionally to fatigue. In-person and telehealth cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for fatigue targets these factors and reactions and is one of the most effective treatments for MS fatigue. However, CBT is resource intensive, as it consists of multiple components (i.e., relaxation training, behavioral activation, cognitive therapy), requiring 8-16 hour-long sessions delivered by a specialized clinician. CBT has yet to be assessed via an integrated translational model that considers all stages, from intervention development to implementation. Thus, the active components of CBT for MS fatigue and their mechanisms are unclear and, despite the significant burden of MS fatigue, CBT for fatigue is not widely accessible due to various implementation barriers.

The proposed prospective case series is the first of two project aims. The overall project aims to optimize CBT for fatigue to maximize efficacy and efficiency. It will use the Multiphase Optimization Strategy to advance scientific evidence on CBT's active components and facilitate implementation, thereby improving accessibility. The proposed prospective case series (Aim 1) will:

  1. examine the feasibility and acceptability of telehealth CBT components (relaxation training, behavioral activation, cognitive therapy) for fatigue in PwMS.
  2. examine initial effects of telehealth CBT components (relaxation training, behavioral activation, cognitive therapy) for improving fatigue in PwMS.
  3. understand participants' perceptions of the feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, and perceived effectiveness of telehealth CBT components (relaxation training, behavioral activation, cognitive therapy) for improving fatigue in PwMS and their recommendations for improving the CBT components.
Being tested
4-week Relaxation Training, 4-week Behavioral Activation, 4-week Cognitive Therapy
Keywords
Multiple sclerosis, Fatigue, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Relaxation training, Behavioral activation, Cognitive therapy
Medical subject headings
Multiple Sclerosis, Fatigue

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • 4-week Relaxation TrainingBehavioural

    A 4-session telehealth Relaxation Training intervention for multiple sclerosis fatigue that is derived from evidence-based multicomponent CBT for multiple sclerosis fatigue. The intervention is based on the cognitive behavioral model of fatigue in multiple sclerosis. The intervention involves 4, 30-60-minute sessions including the following content a) education about fatigue in multiple sclerosis and the cognitive behavioral model of multiple sclerosis fatigue, b) treatment rationale, b) didactic and experiential training in relaxation techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic relaxation, and guided imagery, and c) goal setting and problem-solving barriers focused on integrating relaxation practices into daily routine.

  • 4-week Behavioral ActivationBehavioural

    A 4-session telehealth Behavioral Activation intervention for multiple sclerosis fatigue that is derived from evidence-based multicomponent CBT for multiple sclerosis fatigue. The intervention is based on the cognitive behavioral model of fatigue in multiple sclerosis. The intervention involves 4, 30-60-minute sessions including the following content a) education about fatigue in multiple sclerosis, the cognitive behavioral model of multiple sclerosis fatigue, and self-monitoring activity and energy, b) treatment rationale, c) identification of values/priorities to guide activities, d) activity planning, e) goal setting and problem-solving barriers to engaging in activities.

  • 4-week Cognitive TherapyBehavioural

    A 4-session telehealth Cognitive Therapy intervention for multiple sclerosis fatigue that is derived from evidence-based multicomponent CBT for multiple sclerosis fatigue. The intervention is based on the cognitive behavioral model of fatigue in multiple sclerosis. The intervention involves 4, 30-60-minute sessions including the following content a) education about fatigue in multiple sclerosis, the cognitive behavioral model of multiple sclerosis fatigue, self-monitoring thoughts, and core beliefs, b) treatment rationale, b) labeling thoughts as helpful, unhelpful, or neutral, c) using distraction to cope with unhelpful thoughts, d) challenging and changing unhelpful thoughts, e) problem solving barriers to coping with or changing unhelpful thoughts.

Study groups in NCT05848323
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Relaxation TrainingExperimentalDidactic and experiential training in one or more relaxation techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic relaxation, and guided imagery to reduce autonomic nervous system arousal.
Receives: Behavioral: 4-week Relaxation Training
Behavioral ActivationExperimentalDidactic material and practice focused on identification and reduction of avoidance behaviors (e.g., excessive rest) and increased engagement in valued and reinforcing activities (e.g., physical activity, social engagement).
Receives: Behavioral: 4-week Behavioral Activation
Cognitive TherapyExperimentalDidactic material and practice focused on identifying, challenging, and modifying inaccurate and/or unhelpful patterns of thought about the self and the world (e.g., catastrophizing the meaning and consequences of fatigue) to change unwanted behavioral patterns (e.g., excessive rest).
Receives: Behavioral: 4-week Cognitive Therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Intervention Acceptability

    Intervention Acceptability will be measured with the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM). When assessed via online survey, responses from the Intervention Acceptability items are averaged to create a mean score [1-5]. A higher score indicates more agreement with intervention acceptability while a lower score indicates less agreement with intervention acceptability.

    Measured: Collected via online survey at post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).

  2. Intervention Appropriateness

    Intervention Appropriateness will be measured with the Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM). When assessed via online survey, responses from the Intervention Appropriateness items are averaged to create a mean score [1-5]. A higher score indicates more agreement with intervention appropriateness while a lower score indicates less agreement with intervention appropriateness.

    Measured: Collected via online survey at post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).

  3. Intervention Feasibility

    Intervention Feasibility will be measured with the Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM). When assessed via online survey, responses from the Intervention Feasibility items are averaged to create a mean score [1-5]. A higher score indicates more agreement with intervention feasibility while a lower score indicates less agreement with intervention feasibility.

    Measured: Collected via online survey at post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Fatigue

    Fatigue will be measured by the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale. This is a 21-item self-report questionnaire assessing fatigue-related symptoms in the previous four weeks via 5-point Likert-type scale. It yields a total score (range: 0-84) and a higher score indicates greater fatigue.

    Measured: Collected via online survey at pre-treatment (up to 4 weeks before treatment session 1) and post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).

  2. Participation in Social Roles and Activities

    Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Short Form - Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities (PROMIS-SRA; Hahn et al., 2010). The 8-item short form version of the PROMIS-SRA assesses the perceived ability to perform one's usual social roles and activities. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Raw summed scores are converted to T-scores standardized to the U.S. general population (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10), with higher scores indicating better ability to participate in social roles and activities.

    Measured: Collected via online survey at pre-treatment (up to 4 weeks before treatment session 1) and post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).

  3. Relaxation/Serenity

    Relaxation/Serenity will be measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Serenity Subscale. This is a 3-item self-report subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule assessing perceptions of feeling of calm, relaxed, and at ease over the previous week via a 5-point Likert-type scale. The summed total score ranges from 3-15 and a higher score indicates greater feelings of relaxation/serenity.

    Measured: Collected via online survey at pre-treatment (up to 4 weeks before treatment session 1) and post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).

  4. Fatigue Catastrophizing

    Fatigue catastrophizing will be measured by the Fatigue Catastrophizing Scale. This is a 13-item self-report questionnaire assessing negative beliefs or expectations connected to one's perceptions of fatigue via a 5-point Likert-type scale. Summed total scores range from 0 to 52, and a higher score indicates greater fatigue catastrophizing.

    Measured: Collected via online survey at pre-treatment (up to 4 weeks before treatment session 1) and post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).

  5. Behavioral Activation

    Behavioral activation will be measured by the Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale Short Form. This is a 9-item self-report measure. It assess the extent to which the respondent thinks they have engaged in pleasant and/or goal-directed activity over the past week via a 7-point Likert-type scale. Summed total scores range from 0 to 54, and a higher score indicates greater behavioral activation.

    Measured: Collected via online survey at pre-treatment (up to 4 weeks before treatment session 1) and post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).

  6. Cognitive Behavioural Responses Questionnaire - Short Form

    This is a 18-item self-report questionnaire consisting of five subscales assessing cognitive responses (fear avoidance beliefs, embarrassment avoidance beliefs, symptom focusing) and behavioral responses (resting or avoidance of activity, all-or-nothing behavior) to fatigue one's connected to one's perceptions of fatigue via a 5-point Likert-type scale. The summed total subscale scores range from 0 to 12, and higher scores indicate a more negative response to fatigue.

    Measured: Collected via online survey at pre-treatment (up to 4 weeks before treatment session 1) and post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).

  7. Global Impression of Change

    This is a single-item self-report scale that assess the perceived intervention-related change in one's activity limitations, symptoms, emotions, and overall quality of life via 7-point Likert-type scale. The score ranges from 0 to 6 and a higher score indicates greater perceived change.

    Measured: Collected via online survey at post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted8 May 2023
  2. Study start30 Oct 2023
  3. Primary completion25 Sep 2024
  4. Study completion25 Sep 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
21 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05848323
Sponsor's protocol ID
STUDY00017623
Status last verified
Sep 2025
First submitted
27 Apr 2023
Last updated
26 Nov 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: We will make available to interested researchers a data file containing de-identified data used for each published article at the time the article is accepted for publication. The data will be de-identified to remove any variables from which it would be possible to identify any individual participants. Specifically, we will create a data file that includes all variables used in the published article and a list of the variables in the data file (along with variable labels) and send to investigators who request the data a copy of: (1) the published article (which will describe the source of the data); (2) the variable list/variable labels; and (3) the dataset (as an SPSS.sav file). Note, though, even though any data files that we share will be stripped of identifiers prior to release for sharing, it remains possible those who access the data could potentially use deduction to identify participants with unusual characteristics or combinations of unusual characteristics.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing 4-week Relaxation Training, 4-week Behavioral Activation and 4-week Cognitive Therapy in people with Multiple Sclerosis and Fatigue, run by University of Washington at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 26 Nov 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Intervention Acceptability (time frame: Collected via online survey at post-treatment (approximately 4-8 weeks after the pre-treatment survey).). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Nov 2025.

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