Online thinking and emotion rehabilitation program for people with multiple sclerosis
Tests a social and thinking skills program in adults with multiple sclerosis.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Sociocognitive Intervention and Rehabilitation Program in Multiple Sclerosis
Key facts
- Where
- Coimbra, PortugalSee the 2 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 55 years old?
Source: NCT07734675, who can take part
Where in Portugal
- Local Health Unit of CoimbraCoimbra, PortugalNo longer taking part
- Unidade Local de Saude de CoimbraCoimbra, PortugalNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Sonia Batista
- Trial code
- NCT07734675
- Record updated
- 29 July 2026
- Original description
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, involving inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. It is the most common non-traumatic disabling disease affecting young adults. MS is characterized by its heterogeneity and unpredictable course, which make both evaluation and treatment complex. Patients may present with motor, sensory, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, all of which have a significant impact on quality of life.Read full original descriptionShow less
Sociocognitive Intervention and Rehabilitation Program in Multiple Sclerosis: Implications for Cognitive Reserve and Metacognition
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, involving inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. It is the most common non-traumatic disabling disease affecting young adults. MS is characterized by its heterogeneity and unpredictable course, which make both evaluation and treatment complex. Patients may present with motor, sensory, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, all of which have a significant impact on quality of life.
With regard to cognition, the impact of cognitive impairment in MS remains underestimated. However, it is observed in approximately 40-65% of patients and may be present at all stages of the disease, including the earliest ones (patients with low levels of disability and Clinically Isolated Syndromes - CIS).
Notably, cognitive alterations appear to precede structural abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), representing a potential marker of disease activity.
Therefore, early diagnosis and characterization of MS-related cognitive impairment are essential, followed by the implementation of patient-tailored cognitive rehabilitation programs, which have recently been shown to exert long-term effects persisting beyond the treatment period.
The project aims to conduct a single-center, randomized, pragmatic, prospective clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment. Its primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of an innovative sociocognitive rehabilitation program in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
In addition, the study seeks to characterize cognitive phenotypes in MS, investigate the role of cognitive reserve and metacognition in the effectiveness of the intervention, and correlate neuropsychological findings with other disease biomarkers, with the ultimate goal of proposing a predictive model of disease progression.
Inclusion: Patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis; Complete clinical assessment (neuroimaging biomarkers-MRI, neuropsychological and biochemical biomarkers-cerebrospinal fluid and serum); Age between 18-55 years; Portuguese native language; Fulfil the criteria for cognitive impairment as defined by either the BICAMS- with one or more test scores below the 5th percentile relative to the control group - and/or the BRBN-T - with at least two test scores below the 5th percentile relative to the control group; Present deficits in social cognition.
Exclusion: Current or past use of antipsychotic medication; Alcohol, drug, or other substance abuse; History of traumatic brain injury resulting in loss of consciousness; Medical conditions that contraindicate MRI; MoCA score <23; Severe language, visual, or auditory impairments.