Comparing the Effectiveness of Computer-Based, Manual-based, and Combined Cognitive Rehabilitation on Cognitive Functions in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of computer-based, manual-based, and combined cognitive rehabilitation to improve cognitive functions among patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test, and a 2-month follow-up, as well as a control group design. Sixty female patients with RRMS were selected by convenience sampling technique. Then they were randomly assigned into three experimental groups (computer-based, manual-based, and combined cognitive rehabilitation, each group including 12 patients), a placebo group (12 patients), and a control group (12 patients). The interventions were conducted in 21 sessions for the experimental groups for 5 months. The placebo group received physical rehabilitation intervention, and the control group received no intervention. The study participants were assessed by Psychiatric-Neurological Profile, Mini-Mental State Examination, Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale, Stroop Color and Word Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. The obtained data were analyzed by repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance in SPSS. RESULTS: The effect of group factor was not significant (η(2)=0.129), but the effect of time (η(2)=0.884) and interaction effect of time and group (η(2)=0.295) were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the effects of all three rehabilitation interventions (P>0.05). In the post-test totally and in Follow-up partially, all comparisons among three experimental groups with control and placebo groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cognitive rehabilitation was effective in improving cognitive functions in patients with RRMS. Thus, these interventions are recommended for application, along with other treatment protocols to treat RRMS in clinical settings.