Which behavioural and exercise interventions targeting fatigue show the most promise in multiple sclerosis? A systematic review with narrative synthesis and meta-analysis
Journal article
Moss-Moris, R, Harrison, A.M, Safari, Reza, Norton, S, van der Linden, M.L, Picariello, F, Thomas, S, White, C, Mercer, T and Rona, Moss-Morris 2019. Which behavioural and exercise interventions targeting fatigue show the most promise in multiple sclerosis? A systematic review with narrative synthesis and meta-analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 137, pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2019.103464
| Authors | Moss-Moris, R, Harrison, A.M, Safari, Reza, Norton, S, van der Linden, M.L, Picariello, F, Thomas, S, White, C, Mercer, T and Rona, Moss-Morris |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Fatigue is a common and highly debilitating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). This meta-analytic systematic review with detailed narrative synthesis examined randomised-controlled (RCTs) and controlled trials of behavioural and exercise interventions targeting fatigue in adults with MS to assess which treatments offer the most promise in reducing fatigue severity/impact. Medline, EMBASE and PsycInfo electronic databases, amongst others, were searched through to August 2018. Thirty-four trials (12 exercise, 16 behavioural and 6 combined; n = 2,434 participants) met inclusion criteria. Data from 31 studies (n = 1,991 participants) contributed to the meta-analysis. Risk of bias (using the Cochrane tool) and study quality (GRADE) were assessed. The pooled (SMD) end-of-treatment effects on self-reported fatigue were: exercise interventions (n = 13) -.84 (95% CI -1.20 to -.47); behavioural interventions (n = 16) -.37 (95% CI -.53 to -.22); combined interventions (n = 5) -.16 (95% CI: -.36 to .04). Heterogeneity was high overall. Study quality was very low for exercise interventions and moderate for behavioural and combined interventions. Considering health care professional time, subgroup results suggest web-based cognitive behavioural therapy for fatigue, balance and/or multicomponent exercise interventions may be the cost-efficient therapies. These need testing in large RCTs with long-term follow-up to help define an implementable fatigue management pathway in MS. |
| Keywords | Fatigue; Multiple sclerosis (MS); Meta-analysis; Randomised controlled trials; Behavioural interventions; Exercise interventions |
| Year | 2019 |
| Journal | Behaviour Research and Therapy |
| Journal citation | 137, pp. 1-19 |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| ISSN | 0005-7967 |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2019.103464 |
| Web address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796719301500?via%3Dihub |
| hdl:10545/624313 | |
| Output status | Published |
| Publication dates | 28 Aug 2019 |
| Publication process dates | |
| Deposited | 05 Dec 2019, 09:22 |
| Accepted | 25 Aug 2019 |
| Contributors | University of Derby |
| File | License File Access Level Open |
| File | File Access Level Restricted |
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