Objective: To establish the efficacy of a multidisciplinary fatigue management programme (MFMP) in MS. Method Fifty-one subjects with MS were randomly allocated to group A, who only received the four weeks MFMP, or group B receiving a placebo intervention programme first and the MFMP after 6 months. In both groups, assessment was performed at baseline, 3 weeks and 6 months after the programmes and included Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), MS Self-Efficacy scale (MSSE), Mental Health Inventory (MHI) and Impact on Participation and Autonomy (IPA).

Results: The MFIS showed a significant change over time (F(4,152) = 3.346, P = 0.012), which was similar in both groups (time*group interaction: F(4,152) = 1.094, P = 0.361). A clinically relevant reduction of MFIS score of 10 points or more was found in 17% of individuals following the MFMP, compared to 44% after the placebo intervention programme (P = 0.06). Compared to no intervention, a significant effect of the MFMP after 6 months (P = 0.003) was found in five participants (31%). No significant changes in FSS, MSSE, MHI and IPA, in both groups, were found.

Conclusions: Although an additional effect was found, the multidisciplinary fatigue management programme showed no efficacy in reducing the impact of fatigue compared to a placebo intervention programme.