title: Neuropsychological rehabilitation has beneficial effects on perceived cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis during nine-month follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systematic reviews have indicated a low level of evidence for the positive effects of neuropsychological and cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (MS). How permanent the positive effects are, is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether short-term neuropsychological rehabilitation has long-term beneficial effects in a nine-month follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  102 relapsing-remitting MS patients with subjective and objective attentional deficits were randomized into intervention and control groups. Altogether 78 out of 102 patients (76%) completed the longitudinal follow-up (intervention group 83%, control group 67%). Intervention group received strategy-oriented neuropsychological rehabilitation conducted once a week in 60-minute sessions during thirteen consecutive weeks. The control group received no intervention. Cognitive deficits, mood, fatigue, impact of disease, and quality of life were evaluated with self-reports at baseline, six months, and one year from baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive effects of neuropsychological rehabilitation on perceived cognitive deficits were maintained for nine months. Among a subgroup of patients with moderate to severe attentional deficits, positive rehabilitation outcome was even more evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The beneficial effects of strategy-oriented neuropsychological rehabilitation on perceived cognitive deficits in MS may be maintained for at least one year after the beginning of the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Tampere University Hospital, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, P.O. Box 2000, 33521 Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: eija.rosti-otajarvi@pshp.fi.
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosti-Otajärvi
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mäntynen
authors.forename: Keijo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koivisto
authors.forename: Heini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hämäläinen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001288:Attention; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Attention; Follow-up; Long-term; MS; Multiple sclerosis; Neuropsychological rehabilitation