Parkinson's patients' executive profile and goals they set for improvement: Why is cognitive rehabilitation not common practice?. Issue 2 (3rd March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vlagsma, T. T.; Koerts, J.; Fasotti, L.; Tucha, O.; van Laar, T.; Dijkstra, H.; Spikman, J. M.
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychological rehabilitation. Volume 26:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 216
• Page End: 235
• Publication Date: 2016-03-03
• Subjects: Neuropsychological rehabilitation -- Parkinson's disease -- Acquired brain injury -- Goal setting -- Executive functions; Brain damage -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Clinical neuropsychology -- Periodicals; 617.4810443
• DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2015.1013138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-2011

Abstract

Abstract : Impairments in executive functions (EF) are the core cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Surprisingly, cognitive rehabilitation is not routinely offered to patients with PD. However, in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI), cognitive rehabilitation, in particular strategic executive training, is common practice and has been shown to be effective. In this study, we determined whether PD patients have different needs and aims with regard to strategic executive training than ABI patients, and whether possible differences might be a reason for not offering this kind of cognitive rehabilitation programme to patients with PD. Patients' needs and aims were operationalised by individually set goals, which were classified into domains of EF and daily life. In addition, patients with PD and ABI were compared on their cognitive, in particular EF, profile. Overall, PD patients' goals and cognitive profile were similar to those of patients with ABI. Therefore, based on the findings of this study, there is no reason to assume that strategic executive training cannot be part of standard therapy in PD. However, when strategic executive training is applied in clinical practice, disease-specific characteristics need to be taken into account.