title: Using mental visual imagery to improve autobiographical memory and episodic future thinking in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients: A randomised-controlled trial study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The co-occurrence of autobiographical memory (AM) and episodic future thinking (EFT) impairment has been documented in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients. On these bases, we aimed at probing the efficacy of a mental visual imagery (MVI)-based facilitation programme on AM and EFT functioning in the context of a randomised-controlled trial study in RR-MS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Autobiographical Interview (AI), 40 patients presenting with an AM/EFT impairment were randomly assigned in three groups: (i) the experimental (n = 17), who followed the MVI programme, (ii) the verbal control (n = 10), who followed a sham verbal programme, and (iii) the stability groups (n = 13), who underwent the AM/EFT test twice, with no intervention in between.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AI's second assessment scores showed a significant improvement of AM and EFT performance only for the experimental group, with a long-term robustness of treatment benefits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The control and stability groups' results ruled out nursing and test learning effects as explanations of AM/EFT improvement. These benefits were corroborated by the patients' comments, which indicated an effective MVI strategy transfer to daily life. Our results suggest that the MVI programme tackles a common cognitive process of scene construction present in AM and EFT.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Neuropsychology and Physiopathology of Schizophrenia (INSERM UMR 1114), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherche (CMRR), University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.|ICube (CNRS UMR 7357), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.|Fédération de Médecine translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blanc
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherche (CMRR), University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.|Clinical Investigation Centre (CIC, INSERM 1434), University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Seze
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Neuropsychology and Physiopathology of Schizophrenia (INSERM UMR 1114), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Liliann
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013850:Thinking; D014796:Visual Perception
keywords: Autobiographical memory; episodic future thinking; mental visual imagery; multiple sclerosis; neuropsychological rehabilitation