Cognitive training in home environment

Primary objective: To examine the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in the patient's home or vocational environment.

Research design: Pre-post-follow-up design.

Methods and procedures: Ten outpatients with acquired attention and memory problems received cognitive training three times weekly, for 3 weeks. They received individual attention training with Attention Process Training, training for generalization for everyday activities and education in compensatory strategies for self-selected cognitive problems. Treatment effects were evaluated with neuropsychological and occupational therapy instruments before and after the training and after 3 months on impairment, activity and participation levels.

Main outcomes and results: The results indicated a positive effect on some measures on impairment level, but no differences on activity or participation levels at follow-up.

Conclusions: The study indicates that home-based cognitive training improves some attentional and memory functions and facilitates learning of strategies. Future controlled studies are needed to confirm the results and analyse the efficacy of different aspects of home-based training.