Talking it out: therapy eases MS-Related anxiety and brain fog
NCT ID NCT07273604
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether two types of talk therapy—cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and relaxation training—could improve mood and thinking in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. 140 participants with mild to moderate disability were randomly assigned to one of the therapies or standard care. The goal was to see if these therapies could reduce anxiety and depression and boost memory and attention as a complement to usual MS treatment.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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140 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2015
- Finished
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Jan 2019
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis according to standard clinical criteria. * Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 0 and 3.5. * Mild to moderate cognitive impairment defined as: up to two BRB-N subtests with scores \< -2 SD. * Presence of anxiety or depressive symptoms defined as: * HADS: score \> 8 on one or both subscales, and/or * BDI-II: score \> 8. * Stable disease-modifying treatment for ≥ 3 months. * Ability to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (SPMS or PPMS). * Severe cognitive impairment preventing participation in psychological sessions. * Active psychiatric or neurological disorders unrelated to MS. * Participation in another psychological or pharmacological intervention study. * Recent initiation or modification of disease-modifying treatment (\< 3 months). * Substance abuse or dependence within the past year. * Inability to provide informed consent.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Faculty of Psychology, University of La Laguna Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences Campus de Guajara, Calle Heraclio Sánchez, s/n 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain
San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38200, Spain
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