Speed of Processing Training to Improve Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis

February 19, 2020 updated by: Nancy Chiaravalloti, Kessler Foundation

Speed of Processing Training to Improve Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the effectiveness of a computerized technique designed to improve processing speed (i.e. the amount of time it takes for a person's brain to process information) in a multiple sclerosis (MS) population. The study is designed to study how well this technique can help people with MS increase their processing speed and their ability to function better in everyday life. This treatment protocol has been studied extensively with older adults, showing improvements on standard laboratory measures of processing speed and performance of activities of daily living.

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

This study is a double-blind, placebo-control randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of Speed of Processing Training (SPT) for improving processing speed (PS) deficits in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Slowed PS is one of the most common deficits in individuals with MS and such deficits have been shown to exert significant negative impact on multiple aspects of everyday life, including occupational and social functioning. Despite these findings, few studies have attempted to remediate PS deficits in order to improve the everyday functioning of individuals with MS. This study is designed to (1) apply a treatment protocol for PS impairments well-validated in an aging population to individuals with MS with objectively observable deficits in PS and document its efficacy on standard neuropsychological outcome measures. In addition, the investigators will (2) assess the effectiveness of the intervention utilizing global measures of everyday life, including an objective measure (the Timed Activities of Daily Living; TIADL), as well as additional questionnaires to be completed by both the participant and a significant other. This study is also designed to (3) examine the influence of degree of PS impairment on treatment efficacy using neuropsychological tests, (4) evaluate the long-term effects of the treatment protocol and (5) examine the utility of booster sessions to facilitate long-term treatment effects.

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.
100

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

  • United States
    • New Jersey
      • West Orange, New Jersey, United States, 07052
        • Kessler Foundation

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 59 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • English as a primary language
  • diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis
  • processing speed impairment (based on evaluation)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • most recent exacerbation within one month
  • currently taking steroids or benzodiazepines
  • history of significant psychiatric illness (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis) or a current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
  • significant alcohol or drug abuse history

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: Triple

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: Speed of Processing Training (SPT)
SPT will be administered on a laptop computer twice a week for 5 weeks (10 training sessions).
Behavioral: Speed of Processing Training (SPT)
Placebo Comparator: Placebo control group
Placebo control exercises will be administered on a laptop computer twice a week for 5 weeks (10 sessions)
Behavioral: Placebo Control
Placebo control exercises will be administered on a laptop computer twice a week for 5 weeks (10 training sessions).

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
Change in scores on standardized tests of processing speed
Time Frame: Three points in time: baseline (week1), immediately following treatment (week 7) and 6 months after treatment is completed
Three points in time: baseline (week1), immediately following treatment (week 7) and 6 months after treatment is completed

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
Change in scores on self-report of emotional functioning, measured via questionnaire
Time Frame: Three points in time: baseline (week1), immediately following treatment (week 7) and 6 months after treatment is completed
Self-report questionnaires and objective measures of everyday performance will be used to determine whether there have been changes across the three time points.
Three points in time: baseline (week1), immediately following treatment (week 7) and 6 months after treatment is completed
Change in scores on self-report of everyday functioning, measured via questionnaire
Time Frame: Three points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment and 6 months after treatment is completed
Three points in time: pre-treatment, immediately following treatment and 6 months after treatment is completed
Change in scores on self-report of quality of life, measured via questionnaire
Time Frame: Three points in time: baseline (week1), immediately following treatment (week 7) and 6 months after treatment is completed
Three points in time: baseline (week1), immediately following treatment (week 7) and 6 months after treatment is completed

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.
Kessler Foundation

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society

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: Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, Kessler Foundation

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, 2014

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.
February 1, 2020

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.
February 1, 2020

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 23, 2014

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.
November 21, 2014

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.
November 25, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

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.
February 20, 2020

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.
February 19, 2020

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.
February 1, 2020

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.
  • RG 4997A5/1

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.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings