Evidence-Based Cognitive Rehabilitation: Systematic Review of the Literature From 2009 Through 2014

Abstract

Objective: To conduct an updated, systematic review of the clinical literature, classify studies based on the strength of research design, and derive consensual, evidence-based clinical recommendations for cognitive rehabilitation of people with TBI or stroke. Data Sources: Online Pubmed and print journal searches identified citations for 250 articles published from 2009 through 2014. Study Selection: 186 articles were selected for inclusion after initial screening. 50 articles were initially excluded (24 healthy, pediatric or other neurologic diagnoses, 10 non-cognitive interventions, 13 descriptive protocols or studies, 3 non-treatment studies). 15 articles were excluded after complete review (1 other neurologic diagnosis, 2 non-treatment studies, 1 qualitative study, 4 descriptive papers, 7 secondary analyses). 121 studies were fully reviewed. Data Extraction: Articles were reviewed by CRTF members according to specific criteria for study design and quality, and classified as providing Class I, Class II, or Class III evidence. Articles were assigned to 1 of 6 possible categories (based on interventions for attention, vision and neglect, language and communication skills, memory, executive function, or comprehensiveintegrated interventions).

Beneficial effects of early attention process training after acquired brain injury: A randomized controlled trial

“…The participants constituted an exceptionally homogenous group in the context of brain injury research (4,25,36) regarding cognitive and behavioural consequences of the brain injury.…”

“…It is a paradox in rehabilitation research that, although behavioural changes are most marked in the early phases after brain injury, the effects of specific rehabilitation efforts are difficult to demonstrate due to the complexity of the process (1,4,5). The use of time-series measurement, applied to repeated evaluations, permits a more detailed approach providing information in a new, different way.…”

“…Impairment in attention is one of the cardinal cognitive symptoms after ABI that benefits from restorative training (4,5). There is growing support for the importance of remediation of attention as a critical modulator of neuroplasticity, as it is associated with better functional outcome (2,3).…”

Multimodal pathway for brain tumor‐related epilepsy patients: Observational study

“…Weekly individual session (1 hour), for 12 weeks carried out by a certified neuropsychologist. According to literature recommendations, it was adopted a combined rehabilitation approach structured in two levels: restoration of weakened cognitive function through specific exercises and compensation through the use of aids: external/internal and active/passive (calendar, agenda, timer) or through the intervention of residual cognitive resources.…”

The Effectiveness of Home-Based Training Software Designed to Influence Strategic Navigation Preferences in Healthy Subjects

“…Compensatory and metacognitive strategy training programs are practice standards in the rehabilitation of cognitive functions after brain injury (Cicerone et al, 2000(Cicerone et al, , 2005(Cicerone et al, , 2011(Cicerone et al, , 2019. Such training programs start with the construction of a strengths and weaknesses profile in which a patient's impairments and intact cognitive abilities determined.…”