Working Memory Training for Children With Cerebral Palsy

Computer Based Working Memory Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood (2-3 per 1000 live born), and is frequently accompanied by cognitive impairments and behavioural problems. The present study is a controlled clinical trial, a multicenter-study involving three health regions, as well as the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Its primary research goal will be to evaluate the effects of computer-based cognitive training in children with CP. In addition, this study will be the first to conduct a comprehensive neuropsychological examination to improve our understanding of cognitive impairments as well as cognitive resources in CP children in Norway to aid in intervention planning.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Cerebral Palsy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Working memory training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 115
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Gro CC Lohaugen, Phd; Phone Number: +47 95844805; Email: gro.c.lohaugen@ntnu.no
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Jon S Skranes, Phd; Phone Number: +47 99390285; Email: jon.skranes@ntnu.no

Study Locations

• Norway
  • Aust-Agder
    • Arendal, Aust-Agder, Norway, 4801
      • Recruiting
      • Sorlandet hospital
      • Contact: Gro Lohaugen, Phd; Phone Number: +4795844805; Email: gro.c.lohaugen@ntnu.no
      • Principal Investigator: Gro CC Lohaugen, Phd

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 7 years to 15 years (CHILD)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Cerebral Palsy
• School age (7-15 years of age)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not able to use computer, blind, deaf

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: TRIPLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Working memory training; After baseline assessment participants will be randomized to active training or treatment as usual (waiting). The active group will start training immediately and will have 6 weeks to perform the 25 training sessions.	Other: Working memory training; The child will use the computer program at home under parental supervision for 25 sessions, each lasting 30-45 minutes and the family has 6 weeks to complete the training. Each session consists of 8 different tasks presented by an animated robot. The tasks all require the child to hold information in working memory and to manipulate the information.; Other Names: Cogmed RoboMemo
NO_INTERVENTION: Passive control group; The control group will receive "treatment as usual" (special education, physiotherapy etc).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Spatial span	The spatial span board from the Wechsler Memory scale 3ed. will represent our primary outcome measure. The total of forward and backward span will be used as primary outcome measure.	9-12 weeks after inclusion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Verbal working memory	The sum of letter-number sequencing and digit span (total raw scores) will be used as secondary outcome measures.	9-12 weeks after inclusion

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder rating scale	To assess changes in symptoms of attention/hyperactivity problems after training.	9-12 weeks after inclusion
Activity of daily life	Vineland adaptive behaviour scale is a semi-structured parental interview assessing daily life functioning.	9-12 weeks after inclusion
Attention/executive functions assessed by parents	BRIEF is a parental questionnaire that assesses aspects of attention and executive function in daily life.	9-12 weeks after inclusion

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sorlandet Hospital HF
• Collaborators: Helse Sor-Ost
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Gro CC Lohaugen, Phd, Department of Child rehabilitation, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lohaugen GC, Beneventi H, Andersen GL, Sundberg C, Ostgard HF, Bakkan E, Walther G, Vik T, Skranes J. Do children with cerebral palsy benefit from computerized working memory training? Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Jul 7;15:269. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-269.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED): December 1, 2016
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): December 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 3, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2014
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): April 21, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): April 21, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2014
• Last Verified: April 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: cognitive training; cerebral palsy; working memory
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cerebral Palsy; Paralysis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2012/2/00|14