What we do
About our project
Background
Since 2019, the world has been overwhelmed by COVID-19, a respiratory infectious disease. Current evidence suggests that approximately 10%-20% of patients experience symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition, including cognitive deficits and / or subjective cognitive complaints, even 2 years after hospitalization. Detailed research shows deficits in attention, less capacity of working memory, and lower information processing speed. Cognitive complaints are associated with anxiety and depression and have an impact on every day functioning, return to work and quality of life (HR-QoL). There are no established and effective treatments yet for these cognitive deficits and complaints.
Aim
The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of a computerized cognitive rehabilitation program (RehaCom) in post-COVID-19 patients with cognitive complaints on sustained and divided attention and working memory.
The secondary aim is to evaluate the effect of this program on subjective cognitive complaints, psychological outcomes and HR-QoL and to assess the feasibility of the program.
Study design
Randomized waitlist-controlled study. Patients will be trained with the Rehacom training program 3 times a week half an hour for 10 weeks.
Since 2019, the world has been overwhelmed by COVID-19, a respiratory infectious disease. Current evidence suggests that approximately 10%-20% of patients experience symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition, including cognitive deficits and / or subjective cognitive complaints, even 2 years after hospitalization. Detailed research shows deficits in attention, less capacity of working memory, and lower information processing speed. Cognitive complaints are associated with anxiety and depression and have an impact on every day functioning, return to work and quality of life (HR-QoL). There are no established and effective treatments yet for these cognitive deficits and complaints.
Aim
The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of a computerized cognitive rehabilitation program (RehaCom) in post-COVID-19 patients with cognitive complaints on sustained and divided attention and working memory.
The secondary aim is to evaluate the effect of this program on subjective cognitive complaints, psychological outcomes and HR-QoL and to assess the feasibility of the program.
Study design
Randomized waitlist-controlled study. Patients will be trained with the Rehacom training program 3 times a week half an hour for 10 weeks.
Our research focus
RehaCom training
RehaCom is a software program consisting of 29 different therapy modules in multiple cognitive domains. The cognitive domain ‘’attention’’ for example, consists of therapy modules about alertness, vigilance, selective attention, sustained attention, visuospatial attention and visuoconstruction. Each module has different levels of difficulty. Starting at a low level of difficulty, the patient can progress to solve increasingly complex tasks. RehaCom is an auto-adaptive program which adapts the complexity of each task automatically to the patients actual performance. The computer operates as a neutral observer making objective comments on the patient performance and gives, if necessary, error-specific feedback.
RehaCom is a software program consisting of 29 different therapy modules in multiple cognitive domains. The cognitive domain ‘’attention’’ for example, consists of therapy modules about alertness, vigilance, selective attention, sustained attention, visuospatial attention and visuoconstruction. Each module has different levels of difficulty. Starting at a low level of difficulty, the patient can progress to solve increasingly complex tasks. RehaCom is an auto-adaptive program which adapts the complexity of each task automatically to the patients actual performance. The computer operates as a neutral observer making objective comments on the patient performance and gives, if necessary, error-specific feedback.
Collaborations
Rijndam Rehabilitation
Our team
Majanka Heijenbrok-Kal, PhD, assistant professor
Chantal Luijkx, HealthCare Psychologist, i.o. Clinical Neuropsychologist
Rita van den Berg-Emons, PhD, associate professor
Olav Wagenaar, Clinical Neuropsychologist
Sylvia Remerie, MD, PhD, Rehabilitation Physician
Contact us
Majanka Heijenbrok-Kal: m.heijenbrok@erasmusmc.nl
Chantal Luijkx: c.luijkx@erasmusmc.nl
