Application: Neuropsychological rehabilitation

Kerstin Heger (Clinical and health psychologist)

"The psychology department at the neurological Treatment and Rehabilitation Center at Bad Pirawarth has been using the neuropsychological training software CogniPlus for more than three years. For patients with impairments of cognitive functions as a result of stroke, craniocerebral trauma, tumour surgery, Parkinson's disease, MS, incipient or early-stage dementia and other neurological diseases, CogniPlus provides some effective training modules for improving the functioning of attentional performance. This enables treatment to be targeted at the patient's specific limitation.

At the Pirawarth clinic we have successfully used the programs DIVID (divided attention), SELECT (selective attention) and ALERT (alertness).

SELECT includes not only visual and acoustic variants but also a crossmodal version which makes comparatively challenging demands on patients' abilities.

DIVID is particularly appealing in its design (airport operations), and the various tasks are presented very comprehensibly and realistically. 

ALERT is designed in a varied and interesting way and has a reality link to the attention function (the ride on a motorcycle to train alertness); many patients find it entertaining and motivating. The connection between reaction speed and traffic situation is logical.

The instructions in all three program modules are easily understood without additional explanations and the programs adapt well to the user's ability. The Response Panel is very user-friendly and also suitable for patients with motor disabilities. The theory-led development of the training software, which has been specifically designed to improve particular facets of attention, and the (electronically) included and scientifically sound manuals contribute to the very satisfactory use of the system in our everyday work.

Given regular training (three to five units/week), significant improvements in attention are observed in some patients."