Does a cognitive-training programme improve the performance of middle-aged employees undergoing in-patient psychosomatic treatment?
OBJECTIVE
With the ever-increasing average life expectancy and rising age of retirement, cognitive and work capacities in advanced age take on great importance. Cognitive impairments, however, increase with age. The effect of cognitive-training programmes on people with mild cognitive impairment has not been verified in any systematic investigations.


METHODS
This study presents a cognitive-training programme designed for middle-aged employees that was implemented and evaluated at the Psychosomatic Clinic Bad Neustadt/Saale in an AB study design (A: no intervention; B: intervention).


RESULTS
Memory performance of the intervention group (n = 33) improved significantly between intake and discharge, compared with that of the control group (n = 40), as did self-ratings of memory and work-related attitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
A cognitive-training programme is useful and effective in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Future studies should investigate how older or more severely impaired patients benefit from such a programme.
Wagner
Stefanie
S
Klinik fur Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Johannes-Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Germany. stefwagn@uni-mainz.de
Kaschel
Rainer
R
Paulsen
Sonke
S
Bleichner
Franz
F
Knickenberg
Rudolf J
RJ
Beutel
Manfred E
ME
D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016272:Occupational Health; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires