Effect of Computer-Assisted Cognitive Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Brain Injury

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation program on cognitive function of the patients with brain injury. METHOD: Twenty seven subjects with brain injury (23males, 4 females) were enrolled and classified into two groups, experimental and control group. There was no significant difference between two groups in age and postonset duration. Control group received conventional rehabiliation therapy including physical and occupational therapy. Experimental group received additional computer-assisted cognitive training using PSS CogRehab software (USA, 1995), 3 times per a week, 30 minutes per session, for 4 weeks. The PSS CogRehab software consisted of foundation, memory, visual spatial and problem solving categories with 45 indivisualized training programs. These 45 programs are arranged according to the degree of difficulty. All patients were assessed their cognitive function using Computerized Neuropsychological Test (Mirae engineering, 1999) before treatment and at 1 month after treatment. RESULTS: Before the treatment, two groups showed no difference in their cognitive function. After 1 month treatment, the experimental group showed significantly higher performance in forward digit span, forward visual span, auditory continuous performance test and visual controlled continuous performance test than control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Computer-assisted cognitive training would be useful as a additional tool of cognitive rehabilitation in patients with brain injury.