Computer-assisted attention retraining in head-injured individuals: a controlled efficacy study of an outpatient program

Abstract

The efficacy of a computer-assisted attention retraining program was evaluated with 29 outpatients suffering from moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Ss who were at least 12 months postinjury were randomly assigned either to the attention training program or a memory training program that served as a control condition. Training lasted 9 weeks with two 2-hr sessions per week for both groups. The experimental design evaluated outcome by juxtaposing a multiple baseline procedure for a 1st set of measures of attention and memory with a pre and post group comparison that relied on a 2nd set of neuropsychological tests. The experimental group improved significantly in comparison with the control group on measures of attention. The reversed pattern for the memory measures was not observed. None of the treatment effects generalized to the 2nd set of dependent variables.