title: Neuropsychological effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in cerebral palsy.
abstract: We conducted a double-blind placebo study to investigate the claim that hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO2) improves the cognitive status of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Of 111 children diagnosed with CP (aged 4 to 12 years), only 75 were suitable for neuropsychological testing, assessing attention, working memory, processing speed, and psychosocial functioning. The children received 40 sessions of HBO2 or sham treatment over a 2-month period. Children in the active treatment group were exposed for 1 hour to 100% oxygen at 1.75 atmospheres absolute (ATA), whereas those in the sham group received only air at 1.3 ATA. Children in both groups showed better self-control and significant improvements in auditory attention and visual working memory compared with the baseline. However, no statistical difference was found between the two treatments. Furthermore, the sham group improved significantly on eight dimensions of the Conners' Parent Rating Scale, whereas the active treatment group improved only on one dimension. Most of these positive changes persisted for 3 months. No improvements were observed in either group for verbal span, visual attention, or processing speed.
authors.affiliation: Groupe de Recherche en Neuropsychologie Expérimentale, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Paule
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Collet
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ducruet
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanasse
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marois
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amar
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lecomte
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lassonde
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time