Contributions
Abstract: P896
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 7 MS symptoms
Background: 40-60% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have problems with memory and attention. Cognitive rehabilitation is a structured set of therapeutic activities designed to retrain an individual's memory and other cognitive functions. Cognitive rehabilitation may be provided to teach people strategies to cope with these problems, in order to reduce the impact on everyday life. The effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis has not been established.
Methods: This is a multi-centre, randomised controlled trial investigating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a group-based cognitive rehabilitation programme for attention and memory problems for people with MS. 449 people with MS were randomised from five UK centres. Participants were eligible if they had attention or memory problems, were 18 to 69 years of age, were able to travel to attend group sessions and give informed consent. Participants were randomised in a ratio of 6:5 to the group rehabilitation intervention plus usual care or usual care alone. Intervention groups received 10 weekly sessions of a manualised cognitive rehabilitation programme. The intervention included both restitution strategies to retrain impaired attention and memory functions and compensation strategies to enable participants to cope with their cognitive problems. All participants receive a follow-up questionnaire and an assessment by a research assistant at 6 and 12 months after randomisation. The primary outcome is the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS) Psychological subscale at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include the Everyday Memory Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-30, EQ-5D and a service use questionnaire from participants, and the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-relative version and Carer Strain Index from a relative or friend. The primary analysis will be based on intention-to-treat. A mixed-model regression analysis of the MSIS Psychological subscale at 12 months will be used to estimate the effect of the group cognitive rehabilitation programme.
Results: A total of 449 participants were randomised to the study between April 2015 and March 2017. Recruitment has now closed. Follow-up will continue until March 2018.
Discussion: The study will provide evidence regarding the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a group-based cognitive rehabilitation programme for attention and memory problems in people with MS. The study will report in May 2018.
Disclosure: This project was funded by the UK National Institute for Health Research - Health Technology Assessment (12/190/05).
The authors declare no other potential conflict of interest.
Abstract: P896
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 7 MS symptoms
Background: 40-60% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have problems with memory and attention. Cognitive rehabilitation is a structured set of therapeutic activities designed to retrain an individual's memory and other cognitive functions. Cognitive rehabilitation may be provided to teach people strategies to cope with these problems, in order to reduce the impact on everyday life. The effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis has not been established.
Methods: This is a multi-centre, randomised controlled trial investigating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a group-based cognitive rehabilitation programme for attention and memory problems for people with MS. 449 people with MS were randomised from five UK centres. Participants were eligible if they had attention or memory problems, were 18 to 69 years of age, were able to travel to attend group sessions and give informed consent. Participants were randomised in a ratio of 6:5 to the group rehabilitation intervention plus usual care or usual care alone. Intervention groups received 10 weekly sessions of a manualised cognitive rehabilitation programme. The intervention included both restitution strategies to retrain impaired attention and memory functions and compensation strategies to enable participants to cope with their cognitive problems. All participants receive a follow-up questionnaire and an assessment by a research assistant at 6 and 12 months after randomisation. The primary outcome is the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS) Psychological subscale at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include the Everyday Memory Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-30, EQ-5D and a service use questionnaire from participants, and the Everyday Memory Questionnaire-relative version and Carer Strain Index from a relative or friend. The primary analysis will be based on intention-to-treat. A mixed-model regression analysis of the MSIS Psychological subscale at 12 months will be used to estimate the effect of the group cognitive rehabilitation programme.
Results: A total of 449 participants were randomised to the study between April 2015 and March 2017. Recruitment has now closed. Follow-up will continue until March 2018.
Discussion: The study will provide evidence regarding the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a group-based cognitive rehabilitation programme for attention and memory problems in people with MS. The study will report in May 2018.
Disclosure: This project was funded by the UK National Institute for Health Research - Health Technology Assessment (12/190/05).
The authors declare no other potential conflict of interest.