Applying Speed of Processing Training to Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

Applying Speed of Processing Training (SPT) to Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

This pilot study will document the efficacy of a behavioral intervention for Processing Speed (PS) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Speed of Processing Training (SPT), which has been successful used in the aging population in several studies. This study will (1) apply a treatment protocol for PS impairments, well-validated in aging, to persons with MS with impaired PS, and document its efficacy on standard neuropsychological (NP) tests (2) assess the effectiveness of the intervention utilizing global measures of daily life, including an objective measure (TIADL) (3) examine the long term impact of SPT. This study is unique in that it will be the first to evaluate the efficacy of a highly-manualized structured behavioral treatment for processing speed deficits in persons with MS utilizing the optimal methodology for carrying out such studies, a randomized clinical trial. Given the prevalence of PS deficits in the MS population and the significant impact such deficits have on everyday functioning, public safety, and overall quality of life, the identification of an effective intervention for PS deficits in MS could have a profound impact on the population and society as a whole.

Inclusions:

• diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis
• fluent in English
• processing speed impairment (based on evaluation).

Exclusions:

• currently taking steroids and /or benzodiazepines
• prior stroke or neurological disease
• history of significant psychiatric illness (for example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis) or a current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder I or II
• significant alcohol or drug abuse history