CRAMMS trial recruiting from UK MS register

Cognitive problems, such as forgetting to do things and not being able to pay attention, are a common and frustrating consequence of MS but very few centres offer specific training to people with MS on how to deal with these. The CRAMMS (Cognitive Rehabilitation for Attention and Memory in people with MS) trial is now up and running for people with memory and attention problems. The trial is designed to find out whether attending a series of ten group cognitive rehabilitation sessions  compared to not attending such groups reduces the impact of memory problems in daily life and improves quality of life

The study is currently running in the Nottingham, Sheffield and Liverpool areas and will soon also start up in Bristol. People from the surrounding geographical areas are invited to take part.  It is restricted to these areas as treatment takes place at one of the four participating sites. Treatment takes place for one session a week for ten consecutive weeks. People are taught about the nature of memory problems. They are taught strategies to help them pay better attention. We also discuss the use of internal memory aids, such as rhymes, creating stories and using first letters as a clue, and the use of external memory aids, such as notebooks, diaries and calendars.

We have recruited some participants through the UKL MS register. People living close to one of our recruitment centres were invited to complete the MS Neuropsychological Screening Questionnaire. Those who scored more than 27 were invited to join the CRAMMS trial. Just under 500 people completed the MS Neuropsychological Screening Questionnaire and about half were invited to take part in the CRAMMS trial. So far 26 replies have been received to our invitation to take part in the study.

In terms of the trial as a whole, 98 people have consented to take part and 48 have been allocated to receive treatment or not. Five treatment groups have been run, three in Nottingham and one in Liverpool and one in Sheffield.  The feedback from those who have received treatment has been positive. For example, participants have reported that they feel more in control of their memory problems and have learned new strategies to try to cope with them.

The study will carry on until 400 people have been included so there is still opportunity for those with memory or attention problems to join the study. Further details can be obtained from ms-cramms@nottingham.ac.uk  or from the MS Society website