Acupuncture or MBSR for Patients With Fatigue and MS (MS-Fatigue)

January 27, 2016 updated by: Claudia M. Witt, Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of Acupuncture and the Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Suffering From Fatigue

The main aim of this trial is to evaluate whether additional acupuncture or mindfulness-based stress reduction is more efficacious than usual care only to reduce fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

In multiple sclerosis, fatigue is the most common clinical symptom, reported by up to 97% of patients. No successful evidence-based therapy exists so far. The main aim of this trial is to evaluate whether additional acupuncture or mindfulness-based stress reduction is more efficacious than usual care only to reduce fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. We want to include 141 patients with multiple sclerosis and fatigue. Participants will be randomised into three groups to compare 1) usual care, 2) usual care plus standardised acupuncture, and 3) usual care plus mindfulness-based stress reduction. Treatment duration will be 12 weeks. The primary outcome is the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) after 12 weeks, follow-up measurement will be performed after 26 weeks. Secondary outcomes include other fatigue specific parameters, other MS specific parameters, cost, and physiological, immunological and functional magnetic resonance imaging parameters.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
104

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Germany
      • Berlin, Germany, 10117
        • The NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • female or male
  • 18 to 65 years of age
  • able to give oral and signed written informed consent
  • clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis
  • fatigue in "multiple sclerosis" for at least 3 months
  • other stable pre-study treatment with respect to target symptom fatigue for at least 3 months before inclusion
  • stable immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapy or stable no such a therapy for at least the 3 months before inclusion
  • fatigue score of ≥4 on the Fatigue Severity Scale at inclusion
  • patient's mental and physical ability to participate in the trial
  • willingness to be randomised, to attend visits, to complete questionnaires, and willingness to participate and fMRI measurements

Exclusion Criteria:

  • fatigue because of a malignant disease
  • acute relapse or cortisone therapy therapy in the last 30 days before inclusion
  • EDSS (Extended disability status scale) > 6
  • fatigue specific acupuncture in the last 12 months
  • during the last 12 months performing of MBSR exercises learnt in the past
  • change of immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapy during the 3 months before inclusion
  • other new therapies are planned which could have a positive effect on fatigue (e.g. exercise, acupuncture, relaxation therapy)
  • for female patients: pregnancy or anticipated pregnancy during the intervention period
  • severe acute and or chronic disease which does not allow participation in the therapy
  • other limitations which do not allow participation in the therapy
  • alcohol or substance abuse
  • parallel participation in another clinical trial
  • BDI > 29
  • contra indications for fMRI session (e.g. metal clips)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: usual care + acupuncture
standardized acupuncture treatment in addition to usual care
Other: Usual care + acupuncture
Patients of this group receive a standardized acupuncture treatment over 12 weeks in addition to usual care
Experimental: usual care+mbsr
mindfulness based stress reduction in addition to usual care not recruiting anymore
Other: usual care+mbsr
Patients of this group receive mindfulness based stress reduction in addition to usual care
Active Comparator: usual care
usual care without additional treatment
Other: usual care
Patients in this group will follow the same treatment for fatigue they received at study entry

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
fatigue severity scale
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
fatigue severity scale
Time Frame: 26 weeks
26 weeks
modified fatigue impact scale
Time Frame: baseline, 8 weeks, 26 weeks
baseline, 8 weeks, 26 weeks
therapy response rates
Time Frame: 12 weeks
12 weeks
expanded disability status scale
Time Frame: baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
multipe sclerosis functional composite scale
Time Frame: baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
beck depression inventory II
Time Frame: baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
Body efficacy expectation
Time Frame: baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
Body-Efficacy Expectation (BEE) is a scale to measure the conviction that one's body is able to deal with health-threatening factors by itself. It is a six items' scale developed in the Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics and not published, yet.
baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
SF-12
Time Frame: baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
HAQUAMS
Time Frame: baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
Costs
Time Frame: baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
Data on Resource-consumption and associated costs are planned to be derived as patient-reported information using the patient questionnaires.
baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
overall treatment effect
Time Frame: 12 weeks, 26 weeks
12 weeks, 26 weeks
immune parameters
Time Frame: baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks

PBMC and proliferationsassays, pro- and antiinflamatory cytokines, axonal damage marker such as neurofilaments and neurotrophic factors like BDNF

possible influences on the immune system will be evaluated in an exploratory way.
baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
number of serious adverse events
Time Frame: 12 weeks, 26 weeks
12 weeks, 26 weeks
number of suspected adverse reactions
Time Frame: 12 weeks, 26 weeks
12 weeks, 26 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
fMRI
Time Frame: baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
e.g. functional connectivity in a subgroup of 20 subjects in each group
baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks
Dynamics of saccade parameters
Time Frame: baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks, and directly after one acupuncture session
Eye movement analysis will be performed according established standards (Finke et al, J Neurol 2012)
baseline, 12 weeks, 26 weeks, and directly after one acupuncture session
Qualitative interviews regarding therapy
Time Frame: 26 weeks
Part of the patients will be interviewed about the therapies.
26 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Claudia M Witt, MD, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
  • Principal Investigator: Friedemann Paul, MD, The NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 2, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 24, 2013

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 30, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 29, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 27, 2016

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • MS-Fatigue-13

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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