Evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation on everyday memory in multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

The aim was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for everyday memory function in patients with multiple sclerosis. A total of 60 multiple sclerosis patients with cognitive impairment were randomly assigned to three groups, experimental, placebo and control. The groups were well matched in baseline characteristics. Everyday memory was assessed at baseline immediately post-intervention (8 weeks) and five weeks post-intervention. The experimental group received cognitive rehabilitation programme in 1-hour sessions on a weekly basis for 8 weeks. The placebo group received relaxation techniques on a weekly basis for eight weeks and the control group received no intervention. The results indicated that a cognitive rehabilitation programme had a positive effect on the everyday memory of patients in the experimental group post-intervention. However, there was no significant effect of intervention 5 weeks post-intervention. The present study demonstrated that cognitive rehabilitation had a positive effect on the everyday function of the multiple sclerosis patients. However, the effect did not last and that everyday memory function returned to its pre-intervention level.

Keywords: Cognitive rehabilitation; Effectiveness; Everyday memory; Multiple sclerosis.