Comparison of the Effectiveness of Group Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment and Amantadine on Pain, Fatigue and Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common progressive neurological disease in which the myelin of the central nervous system is destroyed and causes many problems for the affected person and is one of the most important life-changing diseases, especially at a young age which causes a severe reduction in the level of individual performance. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of group therapy based on acceptance and commitment and amantadine on pain, fatigue and quality of life in patients with MS.

The present quasi-experimental study was performed with a pre- and post-test design. Statistical population included all people with MS in Hamadan province, Iran; 60 female patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly selected and divided into two equal groups undergoing treatment based on acceptance and commitment (act) and taking amantadine for 3 months. Subjects completed the fatigue severity scale (FSS-9), multiple sclerosis impact scale (MSIS-29), and McGill Pain before and after treatment. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, covariance, Kruskal-Wallis, LSD and Bonferroni statistical methods using SPSS software version 22.

The findings showed that the difference between amantadine consumption and act with the superiority of amantadine effect over act on pain, fatigue and quality of life was not significant (P<0.001).

It can be concluded that non-pharmacological therapies can also be used as adjunctive therapy along with medical therapies.