EFFECTS OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

The chronic and progressive nature of multiple sclerosis (MS) often ex cludes patients from neuropsychological treatment. At the Multiple Scl erosis Rehabilitation Hospital, Haslev, 40 patients with mild to moder ate cognitive and behavioral impairment associated with MS were random ized to either specific cognitive treatment (20 pts) by direct trainin g, compensatory strategies and neuropsychotherapy, or to non-specific, deliberately diffuse mental stimulation (20 pts). Treatment was for a mean of 46 days. The effects of treatment were evaluated by neuropsyc hological tests before treatment, immediately after treatment (short-t erm effects) and 6 months later (long-term effects). After short-term treatment, effects on cognitive measures were not convincing, but on t he Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) the specific cognitive treatment gr oup reported significantly less depression. After 6 months only this g roup showed an effect, since the visuo-spatial memory was improved. Ho wever, the depression ratings (BDI) were almost maintained from the sh ort-term level. Interestingly, the non-specific treatment group rated themselves as significantly more depressed. Conclusively, it is worth while to offer specific neuropsychological treatment to MS patients wi th cognitive and behavioral dysfunction.