Effectiveness of a blended booster programme for the long-term outcome of cognitive behavioural therapy for MS-related fatigue: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) reduces MS-related fatigue. However, studies on the long-term effects show inconsistent findings. Objective: To evaluate whether a blended booster programme improves the outcome of CBT for MS-related fatigue on fatigue severity at 1-year follow-up. Method: A multicentre randomized clinical trial in which 126 patients with MS were allocated to either a booster programme or no booster programme (control), after following 20-week tailored CBT for MS-related fatigue. Primary outcome was fatigue severity assessed with the Checklist Individual Strength fatigue subscale 1 year after start of treatment (T52). Mixed model analysis was performed by a statistician blinded for treatment-allocation to determine between-group differences in fatigue severity. Results: Fatigue severity at 1-year follow-up did not differ significantly between the booster (N = 62) and control condition (N = 64) (B = −2.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −4.76 to 0.75). No significant increase in fatigue severity was found at T52 compared with directly post-treatment (T20) in both conditions (B = 0.44, 95% CI = −0.97 to 1.85). Conclusion: Effects of CBT were sustained up to 1 year in both conditions. The booster programme did not significantly improve the long-term outcome of CBT for MS-related fatigue. Trial registration: Dutch Trial Register (NTR6966), registered 18 January 2018 https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6782