Testing the Efficacy of Self-Generation Treatment Protocol
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Neurology, Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology, Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 65 |
| Updated: | 4/2/2016 |
| Start Date: | January 2014 |
| End Date: | December 2014 |
| Contact: | Yael Goverover, PhD |
| Email: | yg243@nyu.edu |
| Phone: | 212-998-5854 |
Exploring the Effects of a Memory Intervention on Memory and Everyday Life Activities With Persons With MS
Past research has shown that items self-generated by an individual, such as words or
concepts, are remembered better than items that are simply read or heard. The current study
seeks to demonstrate the effectiveness of using the principles of the generation effect in a
treatment intervention to improve memory and functional performance in individuals with
Multiple Sclerosis who have learning and memory difficulties.The main purpose of the study
is to conduct an experimental investigation on the effects of a self-generation strategy
treatment, embedded within practice of various activities ranging from laboratory tasks
(e.g. words and concepts) to functional tasks (e.g. activities of daily living). The
treatment to be tested is geared toward helping patients selfdiscover their own strengths
and abilities while using self-generation to be able to utilize it independently in everyday
life situations.
Design: The proposed pilot study is a randomized clinical trial. Participants: Participants
will include forty (40) persons with MS, between the ages of 18 and 65, who demonstrate
memory impairments. Half of the participants will receive the self-generation training while
learning different types of tasks (experimental group) and half of the participants (control
group) will be asked to learn the same information but will receive a conventional practice
(e.g. repetitions).
Expected results: We expect that participants undergoing the self-generation-training
intervention will show better memory performance, functional performance, quality of life,
and satisfaction with treatment and life compared to participants in the control condition.
concepts, are remembered better than items that are simply read or heard. The current study
seeks to demonstrate the effectiveness of using the principles of the generation effect in a
treatment intervention to improve memory and functional performance in individuals with
Multiple Sclerosis who have learning and memory difficulties.The main purpose of the study
is to conduct an experimental investigation on the effects of a self-generation strategy
treatment, embedded within practice of various activities ranging from laboratory tasks
(e.g. words and concepts) to functional tasks (e.g. activities of daily living). The
treatment to be tested is geared toward helping patients selfdiscover their own strengths
and abilities while using self-generation to be able to utilize it independently in everyday
life situations.
Design: The proposed pilot study is a randomized clinical trial. Participants: Participants
will include forty (40) persons with MS, between the ages of 18 and 65, who demonstrate
memory impairments. Half of the participants will receive the self-generation training while
learning different types of tasks (experimental group) and half of the participants (control
group) will be asked to learn the same information but will receive a conventional practice
(e.g. repetitions).
Expected results: We expect that participants undergoing the self-generation-training
intervention will show better memory performance, functional performance, quality of life,
and satisfaction with treatment and life compared to participants in the control condition.
If self- generation can be successfully adapted and applied to a treatment program for
individuals with MS, it has the potential to improve their rehabilitation and treatment by
facilitating new learning and memory. In addition, if treatment and rehabilitation are
successful and productive, it is expected that the application of self-generation strategy
to improve learning/ relearning will help to improve the ability of individuals with MS to
maintain their current lifestyles at home, work, and within the community. We expect that
persons with MS who complete the proposed treatment will acquire the trained strategy,
recognize the everyday situations in which the trained strategy could be applied and then
map and adapt the trained strategy to real-world situations.
Fourty participants with clinically definite MS and objectively documented impairment in
verbal new learning will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to
either the treatment group (n=20) or the control group (n=20). Participants will be enrolled
only following an informed consent procedure, with the expectation of being able to
participate for the full duration of the study (6 treatment sessions and two assessment
sessions). All participants enrolled in the study will undergo pre and post treatment
assessment to assess their levels of cognitive, emotional, and functional performance.
Treatment for both experimental and control groups will consist of 6 individualized
treatment sessions, 2 x per week for 3 weeks. Each session will last for approximately 45
minutes, and will include various memory tasks that will range from learning list of words
to learning tasks related to everyday life. Participants in the control group will only be
asked to perform the same memory tasks as the treatment group. The treatment for the
experimental group will couple self-generated learning with awareness-training techniques,
which are geared toward helping patients self-discover their performance strengths and
limitations through integration of direct and personal experiences. Personal experience will
be gained by practicing various memory tasks using self-generation strategy. This proposed
self-generation program is expected to increase memory, task specific awareness and
functional performance; ultimately improving quality of life and self-regulation.
individuals with MS, it has the potential to improve their rehabilitation and treatment by
facilitating new learning and memory. In addition, if treatment and rehabilitation are
successful and productive, it is expected that the application of self-generation strategy
to improve learning/ relearning will help to improve the ability of individuals with MS to
maintain their current lifestyles at home, work, and within the community. We expect that
persons with MS who complete the proposed treatment will acquire the trained strategy,
recognize the everyday situations in which the trained strategy could be applied and then
map and adapt the trained strategy to real-world situations.
Fourty participants with clinically definite MS and objectively documented impairment in
verbal new learning will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to
either the treatment group (n=20) or the control group (n=20). Participants will be enrolled
only following an informed consent procedure, with the expectation of being able to
participate for the full duration of the study (6 treatment sessions and two assessment
sessions). All participants enrolled in the study will undergo pre and post treatment
assessment to assess their levels of cognitive, emotional, and functional performance.
Treatment for both experimental and control groups will consist of 6 individualized
treatment sessions, 2 x per week for 3 weeks. Each session will last for approximately 45
minutes, and will include various memory tasks that will range from learning list of words
to learning tasks related to everyday life. Participants in the control group will only be
asked to perform the same memory tasks as the treatment group. The treatment for the
experimental group will couple self-generated learning with awareness-training techniques,
which are geared toward helping patients self-discover their performance strengths and
limitations through integration of direct and personal experiences. Personal experience will
be gained by practicing various memory tasks using self-generation strategy. This proposed
self-generation program is expected to increase memory, task specific awareness and
functional performance; ultimately improving quality of life and self-regulation.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of Multiple sclerosis
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of other neurological conditions
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