Rehabilitation for Improved Cognition

NCT03073772 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: REHSAM 99368-2009/RS09
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 161
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Many patients with exhaustion disorders continue to have significant difficulties with attention and memory function which reduce their work ability. This randomized study investigates whether the addition of a 12-week period of specific cognitive training or physical fitness training could further enhance cognitive function in patients with exhaustion disorder participating in a multimodal rehabilitation program.

Conditions

Exhaustion; Syndrome; Burnout Syndrome

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Short-term change in global brain score

  The global brain score was calculated from ten neuropsychological tasks covering different domains in cognitive functioning

  Week 12 and 24

• Long-term change in global brain score

  The global brain score was calculated from ten neuropsychological tasks covering different domains in cognitive functioning

  Week 12, 24 and 76, mixed model with several time points used to estimate long-term effects

Secondary Outcomes (34)

• Short-term change in "letter memory running span task"

  Week 12 and 24

• Long-term change in "letter memory running span task"

  Week 12, 24 and 76, mixed model with several time points used to estimate long-term effects

• Short-term change in "3-back task"

  Week 12 and 24

• Long-term change in "3-back task"

  Week 12, 24 and 76, mixed model with several time points used to estimate long-term effects

• Short-term change in the "colour word interference test (the Stroop test)"

  Week 12 and 24

Study Arms (3)

Continued multimodal rehabilitation

NO INTERVENTION

No addition of extra training in this group. Only ordinary continued multimodal rehabilitation.

Computer-based cognitive training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This arm also consisted of continued multimodal rehabilitation.

Behavioral: Computer-based cognitive training

Physical fitness training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This arm also consisted of continued multimodal rehabilitation.

Behavioral: Physical fitness training

Interventions

Computer-based cognitive training BEHAVIORAL

A total of 36 training sessions, approximately 20 minutes long each. Five different tasks were used in training all tapping different aspects of cognitive control such as updating, shifting, visuo-spatial working memory and episodic memory binding.

Computer-based cognitive training

Physical fitness training BEHAVIORAL

A total of 36 training sessions, approximately 40 minutes long each, with physical fitness training performed as group indoor cycling. The participants were instructed to attain a load of approximately 65-80% of their maximum heart rate.

Physical fitness training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Confirmed exhaustion disorder according to criteria established by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare
• years of age
• Current employment
• Considered suitable for multimodal rehabilitation in group

You may not qualify if:

• Need of other treatment or rehabilitation
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs
• Participation in another intervention study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Umeå University: lead
• Västerbotten County Council, Sweden: collaborator
• Swedish Social Insurance Agency: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Stress Rehabilitation Clinic, Umeå university hospital, Västerbotten county council

Umeå, 90333, Sweden

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Nelson A, Aronsson I, Tillfors M, Neely AS, Gavelin HM. The experienced route to cognitive health: Cognitive recovery in persons with prior stress-related Exhaustion disorder. BMC Psychiatry. 2025 Apr 14;25(1):375. doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-06713-7.

  PMID: 40229758 DERIVED

• Nelson A, Gavelin HM, Boraxbekk CJ, Eskilsson T, Josefsson M, Slunga Jarvholm L, Neely AS. Subjective cognitive complaints in patients with stress-related exhaustion disorder: a cross sectional study. BMC Psychol. 2021 May 18;9(1):84. doi: 10.1186/s40359-021-00576-9.

  PMID: 34006315 DERIVED

• Malmberg Gavelin H, Eskilsson T, Boraxbekk CJ, Josefsson M, Stigsdotter Neely A, Slunga Jarvholm L. Rehabilitation for improved cognition in patients with stress-related exhaustion disorder: RECO - a randomized clinical trial. Stress. 2018 Jul;21(4):279-291. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2018.1461833. Epub 2018 Apr 25.

  PMID: 29693483 DERIVED

• Eskilsson T, Slunga Jarvholm L, Malmberg Gavelin H, Stigsdotter Neely A, Boraxbekk CJ. Aerobic training for improved memory in patients with stress-related exhaustion: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2017 Sep 2;17(1):322. doi: 10.1186/s12888-017-1457-1.

  PMID: 28865430 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Syndrome; Burnout, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Disease; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Lisbeth Slunga Järvholm, MD, Ass Prof

  Umeå University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2017
• First Posted: March 8, 2017
• Study Start: April 1, 2010
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2014
• Study Completion: December 31, 2014
• Last Updated: March 8, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SE (1)