Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Modafinil, or Both for Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue

University of Michigan343 enrolled

Overview

This clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of 3 treatments for fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: 1) a commonly used behavioral treatment strategy (telephone-based cognitive behavioral therapy), 2) a commonly used medication (modafinil), and 3) a combination of both therapies. Each participant will receive one of these 3 treatments for a total of 12 weeks. Hypotheses are that, at 12 weeks, treatment with combination therapy will overall lead to greater reductions in fatigue impact, fatigue severity, and fatigability compared to monotherapy, and that comorbid depression, sleep disturbances, and baseline disability level will be important effect modifiers that influence treatment effect and adherence.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

343

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Interventions

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a behavioral-based treatment that promotes effective self-management skills, including adaptive thought processes and behaviors (i.e. "coping skills"). CBT also commonly teaches goal-setting and behavioral activation strategies for engaging in physical, social, and other valued activities in the context of fatigue.

ModafinilDRUG

Modafinil is a safe, well-tolerated and effective wake-promoting agent (oral medication) that is FDA-approved for the treatment of fatigue related to sleep disorders. Modafinil is also one of the most commonly used medications for multiple sclerosis related fatigue in clinical practice, with doses ranging from 50 - 400 mg per day, in divided doses (once to twice daily).

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with clinically definite Multiple Sclerosis (MS, all MS subtypes); 2. Age 18 years or older; 3. Presence of chronic, problematic fatigue that, in the opinion of the patient, has interfered with their daily activities for ≥ 3 months; 4. Average Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score greater or equal to 4 at screening. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Current shift work sleep disorder, or narcolepsy diagnosed with polysomnography and multiple sleep latency test 2. History of MS relapse within the last 30 days prior to screening (participants will be considered eligible after the 30-day window); 3. Current stimulant or wake-promoting agent use (such as amantadine, modafinil, methylphenidate, or amphetamine) within 30 days of screening; 4. Pregnancy or breastfeeding; 5. Reliance on hormonal contraception AND concomitant unwillingness to use alternative non-hormonal means of birth control (spermicide or condoms) during the course of the study; 6. Current suicidal ideation (SI) with intent or plan; 7. Known hypersensitivity to modafinil or armodafinil or its inactive ingredients; 8. History of the following cardiovascular conditions: recent myocardial infarction (last 6 months prior to screening), unstable angina, left ventricular hypertrophy, mitral valve prolapse, NYHA class III or IV congestive heart failure; 9. History of prescription or illicit stimulant abuse (such as cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine); 10. Any other medical, neurological, or psychiatric condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, could affect participant safety or eligibility.

Locations (2)

The University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

The University of Washington

Seattle, Washington, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) Score

The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale is a 21-item self-report survey. Each item is rated 0-4, Total scores range from 0-84. . Higher scores indicate a greater impact of fatigue on a person's activities. The primary outcome measure will be the mean within-subject difference between baseline and 12-week Modified Fatigue Impact Scale values (delta-MFIS), compared between the 3 treatment groups.

Time frame: Baseline-12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Fatigue Intensity as Assessed by Self-reported Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Score.

Fatigue intensity was assessed using a wearable monitor, the PRO-Diary (CamNtech) - a wrist-worn accelerometer-based activity monitor which also contains a self-report user interface. Using a 0-10 numerical rating scale, participants entered fatigue intensity ratings into the user-interface on the PRO-Diary 4 times each day, for 7 days, at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 12 weeks post-intervention. All scores over the 7 days were averaged to produce an aggregate fatigue intensity score. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue intensity. Change in fatigue intensity between baseline and 12 weeks was compared between the 3 treatment groups.

Time frame: Baseline-12 weeks

Change in Fatigue Interference as Assessed by Self-reported Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Score

Fatigue interference will be assessed using a wearable monitor, the PRO-Diary (CamNtech) - a wrist-worn accelerometer-based activity monitor which also contains a self-report user interface. Using a 0-10 numerical rating scale, participants entered fatigue interference ratings into the user-interface on the PRO-Diary 4 times each day, for 7 days, at baseline (pre-intervention) and at 12 weeks post-intervention. All scores over the 7 days were averaged to produce an aggregate fatigue impact score. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue impact. Change in fatigue interference between baseline and 12 weeks will be compared between the 3 treatment groups.

Time frame: Baseline-12 weeks

Change in Fatigability as Assessed by the Self-reported Fatigue Intensity Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Score and Physical Activity Level

Fatigability will be assessed using a wearable monitor, the PRO-Diary (CamNtech) - a wrist-worn accelerometer-based activity monitor which also contains a self-report user interface. The fatigability score will be calculated as the ratio of the self-reported fatigue intensity rating (using a 0-10 numerical rating score) divided by the participant's concurrent physical activity level (measured as the average number of activity counts per minute via actigraphy). All fatigability scores will be averaged over the 7 days to create an aggregate fatigability score. Higher scores indicate greater fatigability. Change in fatigability between baseline and 12 weeks will be compared between the 3 treatment groups.

Time frame: Baseline-12 weeks