The efficacy of the modified Story Memory Technique in progressive MS.

BACKGROUND

Impairments in new learning and memory are common in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), negatively impacting everyday life, including occupational and social functioning.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the efficacy of the modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) in a progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) sample through a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT).

METHODS

Thirty (30) individuals with PMS, naïve to the mSMT, were randomized to the treatment or placebo control group. completed mSMT training twice per week for 5 weeks while the met with the therapist at the same frequency, engaging in non-training-oriented tasks to control for professional contact and disease alterations.

RESULTS

The treatment group showed significant improvements in learning compared with the placebo control group, evident on both objective evaluation of new learning and self-report of functioning in daily life. Increased awareness of cognitive deficits was also noted post-treatment.

CONCLUSION

These data provide Class I evidence supporting the efficacy of the mSMT in PMS. A behavioral intervention, targeted to specifically strengthen new learning, can significantly improve memory performance in PMS, and this improvement in memory performance is maintained 3 months later.