Integrative group-based cognitive rehabilitation efficacy in multiple sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial

Figures & data

Table 1. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the sample at baseline.

	REHACOP group (n = 21)		Control group (n = 21)
	Mean (95% CI) n (%)	SD	Mean (95% CI) n (%)	SD	F/U χ^2	p
Age (years)	43.90 (39.58–48.23)	9.51	43.67 (40.53–46.80)	6.89	<0.01	0.926
Education (years)	13.00 (11.62–14.38)	3.03	13.95 (12.53–15.37)	3.12	179.50	0.296
Gender					0.10	0.747
Females	13 (61.90)		14 (66.67)
Males	8 (38.10)		7 (33.33)		0.10	0.747
Disease duration (years)	9.95 (6.38–13.52)	7.84	10.67 (8.03–13.30)	5.79	0.11	0.739
MS subtype
RR	15 (71.43)		17 (80.95)
PP	1 (4.76)		0 (0.00)		1.24	0.539
SP	5 (23.81)		4 (19.05)
EDSS	3.52 (2.80–4.25)	1.59	2.50 (1.66–3.34)	1.85	3.69	0.062
TAP	22.95 (21.16–24.75)	3.94	24.33 (22.68–25.99)	3.64	1.39	0.245
CRQ	13.43 (12.33–14.53)	2.42	13.90 (11.89–15.92)	4.43	0.19	0.668
GDS	6.38 (4.87–7.89)	3.31	4.95 (3.45–6.46)	3.31	163.50	0.148
FSS	45.33 (37.44–53.22)	17.33	38.95 (30.64–47.22)	18.15	172.50	0.227
VAS	31.49 (18.85–44.13)	27.76	20.10 (9.08–31.11)	24.21	155.00	0.097

CI: confidence interval; CRQ: Cognitive Reserve Questionnaire; EDSS: Expanded Disability Status Scale; F: ANOVA; FSS: Fatigue Severity Scale; GDS: Geriatric Depression Scale (15 items); PP: primary progressive; RR: relapsing-remitting; SD: standard deviation; SP: secondary progressive; TAP: The Accentuation Reading Test; U: Mann–Whitney U; VAS: mental fatigue Visual Analog Scale; χ²: chi-squared.

Figure 1. Consort flow diagram.

Table 2. Raw cognitive performance scores for the REHACOP and control group at baseline and follow-up.

		REHACOP group		Control group
		Mean (95% CI)	SD	Mean (95% CI)	SD
BTA	Pre	12.43 (10.82–14.04)	3.53	15.14 (13.30–16.99)	4.05
	Post	12.81 (10.90–14.72)	4.20	15.10 (13.40–16.79)	3.71
BD	Pre	5.14 (4.34–5.95)	1.77	6.10 (5.38–6.81)	1.58
	Post	6.43 (5.63–7.22)	1.75	6.24 (5.45–7.03)	1.73
SDMT	Pre	36.67 (32.47–40.87)	9.23	46.43 (40.30–52.55)	13.46
	Post	42.62 (36.95–48.29)	12.46	47.52 (41.61–53.44)	13.00
PCT	Pre	20.52 (18.08–22.97)	5.37	26.19 (22.14–30.25)	8.91
	Post	25.38 (22.10–28.66)	7.21	27.38 (23.15–31.61)	9.29
TMT-A	Pre	50.90 (40.38–61.43)	23.12	37.38 (30.74–44.02)	14.59
	Post	45.24 (37.67–52.81)	16.63	40.43 (32.13–48.73)	18.23
HVLT-R learning	Pre	20.95 (19.18–22.72)	3.89	24.86 (23.23–26.49)	3.58
	Post	24.48 (22.37–26.58)	4.63	24.81 (22.80–26.82)	4.42
HVLT-R recall	Pre	7.19 (5.95–8.43)	2.73	8.76 (7.81–9.72)	2.10
	Post	8.71 (7.50–9.93)	2.67	9.48 (8.65–10.30)	1.81
CIFA animals	Pre	18.81 (16.81–20.81)	4.39	21.81 (18.68–24.94)	6.88
	Post	21.57 (18.71–24.43)	6.28	22.24 (19.15–25.33)	6.79
CIFA supermarket	Pre	16.00 (13.55–18.45)	5.38	19.00 (16.79–21.21)	4.86
	Post	18.81 (15.26–22.36)	7.80	21.10 (18.45–23.75)	5.82
CIFA P words	Pre	24.52 (20.93–28.11)	7.88	28.67 (23.10–34.24)	12.24
	Post	27.62 (25.07–30.16)	5.59	30.57 (25.15–35.99)	11.91
Stroop Word-Color	Pre	34.86 (31.34–38.37)	7.72	41.48 (36.23–46.72)	11.53
	Post	42.57 (37.29–47.85)	11.60	43.62 (38.45–48.79)	11.36
Stroop interference	Pre	−0.26 (-3.73–3.22)	7.63	1.90 (-0.89–4.68)	6.12
	Post	5.34 (1.46–9.22)	8.52	2.79 (0.30–5.29)	5.47

BTA: Brief Test of Attention; BD: Backward Digits (BD) subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III; CI: confidence interval; CIFA: Calibrated Ideational Fluency Assessment; HVLT-R: Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised; PCT: Salthouse Perceptual Comparison Test; SD: standard deviation; SDMT: Symbol Digit Modalities Test; TMT-A: Trail Making Test A.

Table 3. MANCOVA for cognitive performance in the REHACOP and control group at baseline.

	REHACOP Group		Control Group
	Mean (95% CI)	SD	Mean (95% CI)	SD	F	p
Attention	−0.34 (−0.74 to 0.06)	0.88	0.34 (−0.12 to 0.80)	1.01	5.74	0.022
WM	−0.28 (−0.74 to 0.19)	1.03	0.28 (−0.14 to 0.69)	0.92	4.53	0.040
PS	−0.36 (−0.70 to −0.03)	0.74	0.36 (−0.05 to 0.78)	0.91	7.29	0.010
VM	−0.38 (−0.80 to 0.03)	0.92	0.38 (0.02 to 0.75)	0.80	8.88	0.005
VF	−0.25 (−0.55 to 0.06)	0.67	0.25 (−0.21 to 0.70)	1.00	3.31	0.077
EF	−0.24 (−0.61 to 0.14)	0.84	0.24 (−0.18 to 0.66)	0.92	3.85	0.057

CI: confidence interval; EF: executive functioning; F: MANCOVA; PS: processing speed; SD: standard deviation; VF: verbal fluency; VM: verbal memory; WM: working memory.

Figure 2. Cognitive performance (Z scores) in the REHACOP and control group at baseline and follow-up.

Table 4. Repeated measures MANCOVA for cognitive performance in the REHACOP and control group at baseline and follow-up.

		REHACOP group		Control group
		Mean (95% CI)	SD	Mean (95% CI)	SD	F	p	np^2
Attention	Pre	−0.34 (−0.74 to 0.06)	0.88	0.34 (−0.12 to 0.80)	1.01	0.13	0.722	<0.01
	Post	−0.28 (−0.75 to 0.19)	1.03	0.28 (−0.13 to 0.69)	0.91
WM	Pre	−0.28 (−0.74 to 0.19)	1.03	0.28 (−0.14 to 0.69)	0.92	6.61	0.014	0.15
	Post	0.06 (−0.41 to 0.52)	1.02	−0.06 (−0.51 to 0.40)	1.01
PS	Pre	−0.36 (−0.70 to −0.03)	0.74	0.36 (−0.05 to 0.78)	0.91	7.26	0.011	0.16
	Post	−0.15 (−0.52 to 0.22)	0.82	0.15 (−0.29 to 0.59)	0.97
VM	Pre	−0.38 (−0.80 to 0.03)	0.92	0.38 (0.02 to 0.75)	0.80	5.48	0.025	0.13
	Post	−0.10 (−0.55 to 0.35)	0.99	0.10 (−0.29 to 0.49)	0.86
VF	Pre	−0.25 (−0.55 to 0.06)	0.67	0.25 (−0.21 to 0.70)	1.00	2.08	0.158	0.05
	Post	−0.13 (−0.48 to 0.23)	0.78	0.13 (−0.29 to 0.54)	0.91
EF	Pre	−0.24 (−0.61 to 0.14)	0.84	0.24 (−0.18 to 0.66)	0.92	5.55	0.024	0.13
	Post	0.07 (−0.41 to 0.54)	1.04	−0.07 (−0.43 to 0.30)	0.81

CI: confidence interval; EF: executive functioning; F: repeated measures MANCOVA; n_p²: partial eta squared (effect size); PS: processing speed; SD: standard deviation; VF: verbal fluency; VM: verbal memory; WM: working memory.