title: Computer-assisted rehabilitation of attention in patients with multiple sclerosis: results of a randomized, double-blind trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is controversial information on the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this paper is to test a home-based computerized program for retraining attention dysfunction in MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relapsing-remitting patients who failed > 2 tests of attention on an extensive neuropsychological battery were randomized to specific or nonspecific computerized training (ST, n-ST), in one-hour sessions, twice a week for three months. Outcome measures included neuropsychological assessment, depression, fatigue, everyday activities and a visual analogue scale assessing attentive performance (VAS). Assessments were repeated after the interventions and after a further three months. Statistical analysis included the analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-eight out of 102 randomized patients completed the study (69 women, age 40.9 ± 11.5 years, disease duration 13.0 ± 8.7 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale score 2.7 ± 1.5). Fifty-five patients were randomized to ST, 33 to n-ST. A benefit of the ST was observed on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (p < 0.002). However, patient self-report did not reveal differences between ST and n-ST patient groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although our program trained different attention components, we could detect some improvements exclusively on tasks of sustained attention. Moreover, patient self-perceived results may be independent of the training program.
authors: Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Italy.
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Amato
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Goretti
authors: R G
authors: RG
authors: Viterbo
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Portaccio
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Niccolai
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Hakiki
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Iaffaldano
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Trojano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012984:Software; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; attention; cognitive rehabilitation; computerized training