Long-term effects of memory rehabilitation: A controlled study

Abstract Severely closed-head-injured patients (n = 39) received either memory strategy training or drill and repetitive practice on memory tasks; a control group received no treatment. The treatment procedures were evaluated by subjective ratings, by memory tasks on which an effect of the use of strategies was expected and by reaction time tasks to control for spontaneous recovery or motivational factors. Tests were administered before and after two 3-week periods of training and at follow-up 4 months after the end of therapy. Neither treatment procedure showed significant effects on reaction time measures. Both groups of trainees subjectively rated the effects of therapy on their everyday memory functioning as highly positive, although significant effects on objective memory performance scores could only be demonstrated in the strategy training group. These results appeared most clearly at the 4-month follow-up.