EFFECTIVENESS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAINING WITH GRADUAL MUSCLE RELAXATION TECHNIQUE ON FATIGUE IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

Introduction: Fatigue is one of the most important symptoms of multiple sclerosis where in majority of patients that often suffer from it are young individuals in active life stage. This study was carried out with an aim to assess the effectiveness of psychological Training with gradual muscle relaxation technique on fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients. Material and methods: In this triple blind placebo-controlled clinical trial study, 60 multiple sclerosis patients that were Multiple Sclerosis Association Members of Yazd Province via an easy sampling method and considering the input and output criteria entered the study. The samples were randomly divided into two groups of test (30 persons) and control (30 persons) respectively, and test group received 12 sessions of psychological education with gradual muscle relaxation technique, two sessions a week, whereas for control group nil intervention were adopted. The information was collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Prior to intervention, immediately and three months after an intervention. For analysis of information the statistical tests; Pearson correlation, Repeated measures and t-student was used. Results: Considering that the patients were randomly divided into two groups of test and control, prior to education did not exhibit a statistical difference in the demographic characteristics, disease duration, body mass index, fatigue scale of patients. (P>0.05). The fatigue scale in the test and control groups prior to the intervention were 41.9 +/- 6.666 and 42.833 +/- 8.363, respectively, immediately after the intervention were 41 +/- 6.103 and 33.9 +/- 7.073, respectively, and three months after an intervention were 41.1 +/- 6.567 and 35.567 +/- 7.61, respectively and this difference from statistical viewpoint was significant (P<0.001). Likewise, the Repeated measures statistical test showed a significant reduction in the Fatigue Severity Scale in the education group in triple measurements (P<0.00001). Conclusion: The psychological Training with gradual muscle relaxation technique in the multiple sclerosis patients can lead to reduction of fatigue scale. Therefore, this method can be safely suggested as an effective and affordable in terms of cost and time for multiple sclerosis patients.