Use of an electronic cognitive aid by a person with Korsakoff syndrome

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility and the effectiveness of the use of a customized personal digital assistant (PDA) to support cognitive functioning in a person with Korsakoff syndrome. Method: The PDA was compared with no external support and the use of a memory watch in a single case experimental design. Three main personal goal tasks were defined: “arrive at appointments on time”, “execute a long-term task successfully”, and “remember to ask for medication”. Results: No significant differences were found between the use of the memory watch and the use of the customized PDA. PDA use was perceived as feasible and effective and was considered as a more comprehensive aid than the memory watch. Conclusion: This study shows that a person with Korsakoff syndrome is able to use and benefit from a customized PDA. Replication of these findings in a larger effectiveness study is necessary.

Key words::

• treatment outcome
• Korsakoff syndrome
• handheld computers

Acknowledgements

This project was supported by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW) The Hague, The Netherlands.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.