Applying Speed of Processing Training to Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis (SPTMS)

Kessler Foundation

Status: Completed

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments: Behavioral: Speed of Processing Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01838824

RG 4607-A-3

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot study will document the efficacy of a behavioral intervention for Processing Speed (PS) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Speed of Processing Training (SPT), which has been successful used in the aging population in several studies. This study will (1) apply a treatment protocol for PS impairments, well-validated in aging, to persons with MS with impaired PS, and document its efficacy on standard neuropsychological (NP) tests (2) assess the effectiveness of the intervention utilizing global measures of daily life, including an objective measure (TIADL) (3) examine the long term impact of SPT. This study is unique in that it will be the first to evaluate the efficacy of a highly-manualized structured behavioral treatment for processing speed deficits in persons with MS utilizing the optimal methodology for carrying out such studies, a randomized clinical trial. Given the prevalence of PS deficits in the MS population and the significant impact such deficits have on everyday functioning, public safety, and overall quality of life, the identification of an effective intervention for PS deficits in MS could have a profound impact on the population and society as a whole.

Enrollment: 38 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusions:

• diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis
• fluent in English
• processing speed impairment (based on evaluation).

Exclusions:

• currently taking steroids and /or benzodiazepines
• prior stroke or neurological disease
• history of significant psychiatric illness (for example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis) or a current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder I or II
• significant alcohol or drug abuse history

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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38 participants in 2 patient groups

Speed of Processing Training - Group 1

Experimental group

Description:

Group 1 will receive speed of processing training immediately following baseline testing. They will have an evaluation immediately following treatment and a long-term follow-up 6 weeks after finishing treatment.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Speed of Processing Training

Speed of Processing Training - Group 2

Experimental group

Description:

Group 2 will receive speed of processing training 6 weeks following baseline testing. They will have an evaluation immediately following treatment and a long-term follow-up 6 weeks after finishing treatment.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Speed of Processing Training