Online Therapy Program Called Elevida Seen to Help Patients to Manage Fatigue in Clinical Study

Alice Melão, MSc avatar

by Alice Melão, MSc |

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Elevida fatigue trial

An interactive, psychotherapy-based online program known as Elevida can effectively reduce fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), results of a clinical study show.

In their study, “Randomised controlled trial of a self-guided online fatigue intervention in multiple sclerosis,” published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, researchers concluded that GAIA’s online therapy program “may be a suitable low barrier, cost-effective treatment option for MS fatigue.”

Elevida’s software was developed by a multidisciplinary team that included physicians, psychologists, psychotherapists, and IT experts. Its content is based on cognitive behavioral therapy strategies and psychotherapeutic approaches like mindfulness, and patients navigate through narrative text  at their own pace and via multiple-choice questions.

The software is meant to serve as a guided therapy session, and tailors how quickly a patient progresses according to answers given, matching progress to the patient’s specific needs. Patients are advised to use program once or twice a week.

The clinical study (ISRCTN25692173) enrolled 275 patients with MS and fatigue, recruited through the German MS Society. Participants were randomized to receive standard care or to undergo home-based therapy using Elevida for 12 weeks.

A significant reduction of fatigue was reported in the treatment group compared to controls, as determined by a mean difference of 2.74 points on the Chalder scale (a common measure of fatigue).

Further evaluations confirmed that patients who underwent Elevida therapy had reduced motor fatigue and cognitive fatigue, as well as reduced anxiety. These benefits were found to be sustained throughout a 24-week follow-up.

“Elevida could offer an interim solution or low barrier option to help to reach patients in areas where therapists are not available or provide care to patients in settings where resources are limited,” the researchers wrote.

Use of the fatigue-management program program was also seen to significantly improve patients’ quality of life and their capacity to perform daily tasks. Patients using Elevida also showed a greater ability to handle fatigue compared to those relying on medications.

“GAIA understands the vast unmet medical needs in the MS community and we are dedicated to developing strong innovative solutions based on rigorous scientific evidence,” Mario Weiss, MD, CEO and founder of GAIA, said in a press release. “We believe Elevida can also help mitigate the suffering of many and improve health outcomes.”

The company recently announced that deprexis MS, its program to help manage MS-related depression, was adopted by the health system of the United Arab Emirates. This  interactive therapeutic program has been shown to reduce depression symptoms and significantly improve patients’ quality of life.

Deprexis is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial (NCT02740361) taking place at three sites in the U.S. and two in Germany. The trial — which is now recruiting 400 people with a confirmed MS diagnosis and self-reported symptoms of depression — is supported by the National MS Society. More information is available by clicking here or on the trial’s identification number.