Improving Prospective Memory Via Telehealth

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: Up to 70% of persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) experience cognitive impairment, which can have a significant impact on several aspects of their daily lives. One cognitive domain that has been shown to impact daily functioning, but is understudied in MS, is prospective memory (PM). While there have been successful PM interventions in other clinical populations, to date there has not been a specific PM intervention for PwMS that has been tested in a clinical trial.

The study will be a double-masked randomized feasibility trial, with 18 participants randomized to a PM intervention and 18 participants randomized to an active control (psychoeducation). Participants will meet with an interventionist twice a week for four weeks. Feasibility will be assessed via 1) recruitment, enrollment, and retention; 2) adherence to the treatment; 3) treatment credibility and expectancy; and 4) treatment satisfaction. A preliminary effect size (Cohen's d) will be computed for the group difference using participants' performance on the Memory for Intentions Test, which will be given at baseline (week 1) and post-treatment (week 6). Participants will also complete a battery of neuropsychological measures as part of their baseline and post-treatment assessments.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Clinical diagnosis of MS
Able to read, write, and speak in English
Between the ages of 18 and 60
All genders
No history of other serious neurologic or psychiatric illness, including drug or alcohol misuse
No relapses within the past two months
Access to the Internet and a web camera
Not enrolled in a cognitive rehabilitation program within the past six months
Self-reported issues "remembering places they have to be" and "things they have to do"

Exclusion Criteria

No diagnosis of MS
Unable to complete the study protocol due to language barriers
Younger than 18 or older than 61
No gender exclusions
History of other serious neurologic or psychiatric illness, including drug or alcohol misuse
Had a relapse within the past two months
No access to the Internet and/or a web camera
Currently enrolled or enrolled in a cognitive rehabilitation program within the past six months
No self-reported issues with "remembering places they have to be" or "things they have to do"

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Memory for Intentions Test Total Score Percentile	Six weeks	Performance on objective prospective memory (overall performance). The MIST Total Score is calculated by summing the raw scores from the six subscales, which is transformed into percentiles using age- and education-stratified normative data. Scores ranged from \<1 9 (coded as 0 for analyses) to \>99 (coded as 100 for analyses), with higher scores indicating better prospective memory performance.
Memory for Intentions Test Time Cue Subscale Percentile	Six weeks	Performance on objective prospective memory (time-based)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Prospective Memory Subscale	Six weeks	Subjective prospective memory. The five items in the subscale are summed, with scores ranging between 0 and 20. Higher scores indicate more subjective prospective memory issues.

Locations (1): Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
🇺🇸
Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
🇺🇸Hartford, Connecticut, United States