Short-term cognitive training improves mental efficiency and mood in patients with multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate a short-term non-specific home-based 6-week cognitive training for its effect on neuropsychological deficits and depression.


METHODS
Cognitive and affective abilities of patients with MS were compared with healthy controls using an identical neuropsychological test battery. Re-testing was performed after 6 weeks of cognitive home-based training.


RESULTS
Patients already showed cognitive deficits at baseline. Cognitive training resulted in a significant improvement in several skills, in particular with respect to visuoconstructive and figural long-term memory. In addition, prior depressed mood and quality of life improved in MS patients during the training period and remained up to 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study corroborated the early appearance of neuropsychological deficits in MS. Mental training, although unspecific, lead to improvements with respect to attention and memory functions in patients, and to some degree in control subjects, which may last for more than 6 months.
Brenk
A
A
Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany.
Laun
K
K
Haase
C G
CG
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D013995:Time