title: Cognitive effects of modafinil in patients with multiple sclerosis: A clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of modafinil for the treatment of new learning and memory deficits and fatigue in multiple sclerosis. Only 1 previous study in the literature, to our knowledge, examined the effect of modafinil on cognition specifically in persons with multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and documented new learning impairment completed the study. In a 5-week randomized, double-blinded, crossover design, participants received either a single daily oral dose of modafinil (200 mg) or placebo for 2 weeks. A 1-week washout period was included between study arms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No effect of modafinil was noted on learning and memory performance. Participants taking 200 mg of modafinil showed improvement in 1 of the 2 working memory measures administered, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) Letter-Number Sequencing task, as compared with those on placebo. Treatment with modafinil did not have a beneficial effect in reducing self-reported fatigue. No changes were noted on the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale or the Fatigue Severity Scale with the treatment of modafinil, as compared with placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that 200 mg of modafinil has the potential to improve working memory in persons with MS. These findings suggest that modafinil may enhance aspects of cognition in persons with MS and may be an effective adjunct to clinical rehabilitation interventions.
authors.affiliation: Kessler Foundation.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ford-Johnson
authors.affiliation: Kessler Foundation.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeLuca
authors.affiliation: Kessler Foundation.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elovic
authors.affiliation: Kessler Foundation.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lengenfelder
authors.affiliation: Kessler Foundation.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Chiaravalloti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000077408:Modafinil; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents; D000077408:Modafinil