Abstract

Fatigue is a commonly occurring symptom of MS, with over seventy five per cent experiencing severe fatigue and many experiencing fatigue on a daily basis. Over half of people with MS consider it to be their most troubling symptom. The causes of fatigue are unclear, and its appearance and progression as MS develops is unpredictable. The impact of fatigue is considerable as it can prevent participation in activities such as work and social pursuits. Fatigue has been found to be highly related to an individual’s sense of wellbeing, sense of control over MS and overall mental health. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are available for MS-related fatigue, but evidence on effectiveness is mostly inconclusive or non-existent. This study aims to develop a group based programme to help people with MS manage their fatigue. It is based on cognitive behavioural and energy effectiveness approaches, and has been designed so that it can be easily incorporated into existing health services structures. The purpose of the programme is to help participants realise that fatigue in MS is normal, to use the energy they have more effectively and to develop helpful thinking styles about their fatigue and the impact it has. The funding from the MS society is to be used to carry out a large trial of the programme to see how effective it is in improving people’s ability to manage their fatigue.