ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The evidence base in cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (MS) is still sparse. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of cognitive rehabilitation on cognitive and executive coping, psychological well-being and psychological aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with MS. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with cognitive complaints, taking part in a 4-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation, were randomized to an intervention group (n = 60) and a control group (n = 60). Both groups underwent neuropsychological assessment with subsequent feedback and took part in general multidisciplinary MS rehabilitation. Additionally, the intervention group participated in cognitive group sessions as well as individual sessions. The main focus was to formulate Goal Attainment Scaling goals for coping with cognitive challenges. For 3 months past rehabilitation, the intervention group received biweekly telephone follow-up, focusing on goal attainment. RESULTS: Executive functioning improved significantly from baseline to four and 7 months in both groups. Improvements in psychological well-being and psychological aspects of HRQoL occurred only in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: Multicomponent cognitive rehabilitation administered within the context of multidisciplinary rehabilitation can improve psychological well-being and psychological aspects of HRQoL.
Subject(s)
Cognition Disorders/psychology , Cognition Disorders/rehabilitation , Multiple Sclerosis/psychology , Multiple Sclerosis/rehabilitation , Quality of Life/psychology , Adaptation, Psychological/physiology , Adult , Aged , Cognition/physiology , Cognition Disorders/diagnosis , Executive Function/physiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multiple Sclerosis/diagnosis , Neuropsychological Tests , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate executive complaints and objective executive deficits and their relations to both depression and neurological function in multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty MS patients participating in multidisciplinary rehabilitation underwent assessment with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), neuropsychological tests of executive function, self-report measures of executive function (BRIEF-A), and depression (BDI-II). RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis showed that moderate depression and above (BDI-II > 20) significantly predicted a high degree of subjective executive complaints. Multivariate regression analysis showed that EDSS scores above 4.3 significantly predicted executive cognitive deficit, measured by neuropsychological tests. CONCLUSION: Among the study variables, depression was the strongest predictor of executive complaints. A high degree of neurological disability was the strongest predictor for executive deficit, measured by neuropsychological tests.
