title: Is computer-assisted training effective in improving rehabilitative outcomes after brain injury? A case-control hospital-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rehabilitation of impaired cognitive functions begins to be considered a standard component of medical care after acquired brain injury. Indeed, many evidences support the effectiveness of the two major categories of techniques, i.e. the traditional and computer-assisted ones, which are widely used in cognitive rehabilitative treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of pc - cognitive training in brain injury patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 35 subjects (randomly divided into two groups), affected by traumatic or vascular brain injury, having attended from January 2010 to December 2012 the Laboratory of Robotic and Cognitive Rehabilitation of IRCCS Neurolesi of Messina. Cognitive impairment was investigated through psychometric battery, administered before (T0) and two months (T1) after the cognitive pc-training, which was performed only by the experimental group, in addition to conventional treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon test with a p < 0.01.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At time T0, all patients showed language deficits and cognitive alterations in visual attention and memory abilities. After the rehabilitation program we noted a global improvement in both the groups. However, at T1, the experimental group showed a greater cognitive improvement than the control group, with significant differences in nearly all the neuropsychological tests performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that cognitive pc-training may be a promising methodology to optimize the rehabilitation outcomes following brain injury.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", S.S. 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", S.S. 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: salbro77@tiscali.it.
authors.forename: Rocco Salvatore
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", S.S. 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gervasi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", S.S. 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Salvo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", S.S. 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Lilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonanno
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", S.S. 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corallo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", S.S. 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: De Cola
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino Pulejo", S.S. 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramanti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Computerized cognitive training; Recovery; Rehabilitation outcomes; Stroke; TBI