Patient-related factors may affect the outcome of neuropsychological rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with neuropsychological rehabilitation outcome in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Ninety‐eight relapsing‐remitting MS patients received multimodal neuropsychological intervention (attention retraining, teaching compensatory strategies, psychoeducation, psychological support, and homework assignments) conducted once a week in 60‐minute sessions during thirteen consecutive weeks. The evaluated factors included: 1) patient‐related (baseline objective and subjective cognitive performance, mood, fatigue, as well as demographic factors); 2) illness‐related (duration and severity of the disease); and 3) intervention‐related factors (amount of computer‐based attention exercises and homework assignments, therapist's evaluation of the benefit, and therapist). RESULTS: Patient‐related factors affected rehabilitation outcome, whereas illness‐ and intervention‐related factors did not. The results showed that especially MS patients with male gender and more severe attentional deficits benefitted from the intervention. CONCLUSION: Patient‐related factors may affect neuropsychological rehabilitation outcome in MS.