Table 1.
Characteristics of 10 Included Studies.
| Authors (Year) | Study Type | Study Sample | Study Interventions | Outcome Measures for Cognition | Main Findings and Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvarez et al (2013)3 | CCT | 23 female breast cancer survivors, aged 40 years or older, and with 6-60 months posttreatment | 10-week (20 sessions) whole brain EEG neurofeedback training regimen vs normative sample | Subjective measure: FACT-Cog | Study revealed strongly significant improvements on 4 domains of FACT-Cog (P < .001) |
| Cherrier et al (2013)24 | RCT | 28 female and male non-CNS cancer survivors, with a mean age of 60.5 years and with a median of 3 years posttreatment | 7-week cognitive rehabilitation intervention vs waitlist control | Subjective measure: FACT-Cog Objective measure: RAVLT for verbal memory; Stroop Trial for executive function; Digit Symbol and Digit Span for attention |
The treatment group demonstrated improvements in symptoms of PCI, PCA, and overall impact of quality of life related to cognitive symptoms (P < .01). This group also improved on objective measures of attention (P < .05) |
| Ercoli et al (2015)25 | RCT | 48 female breast cancer survivors with a mean age of 54.5 years and with 18 months to 5 years posttreatment | 5-week group-based interventions included psychoeducation and cognitive exercises vs waitlist control | Subjective measure: PAOFI; Objective measure: RAVLT for verbal memory | The cognitive rehabilitation group improved significantly on PAOFI total and memory score (both P = .01), and on RAVLT total trials (P = .02) and delayed recall scores (P < .01). On qEEG, this group also showed a decreased in delta “slow wave” power and alpha power (both P < .05) |
| Ferguson et al (2012)26 | RCT | 40 female breast cancer survivors, with a mean age of 50 years and after chemotherapy | 8-week CBT intervention focused on memory and attention adaptation training vs waitlist control | Subjective measure: MASQ; Objective measure: CVLT for verbal memory; Digit Symbol for attention; Trail Making Number-Letter trial for executive function |
The intervention group made significant improvements on verbal memory, but no statistical significance on self-reported cognitive complaints |
| Goedendorp et al (2014)27 | RCT | 98 female and male non-CNS cancer survivors, with a mean age of 44.6 years old, and with at least 1 year posttreatment | 6-month CBT intervention focused on memory and attention adaptation training vs waitlist control | Subjective measure: CIS-Concentration; Objective measure: Digit Symbol for attention; Reaction Time Task for speed of information processing | The CBT group reported significantly less cognitive disability. CBT also was associates with a clinically relevant reduction in concentration problems, but no significant differences in objective cognitive tests |
| Kesler et al (2013)14 | RCT | 41 female breast cancer survivors, with a mean age of 55 years and experiencing long-term cognitive deficits | 12-week online, home-based cognitive training program vs waitlist control | Subjective measure: BRIEF; Objective measure: HVLT-R for verbal memory; WCST for language; Digit Span for attention |
Cognitive training led to significant improvements in cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency and processing speed, and self-rating executive function skills |
| King and Green (2015)8 | RCT | 29 female and male non-CNS cancer survivors, with a mean age of 50.4 years and completed major treatment at least 6 months | 4-week cognitive rehabilitation program for adults recovering from cancer vs waitlist control vs normative sample | Subjective measure: FACT-Cog; Objective measure: RBANS for immediate and delayed memory; TMT for attention and executive function |
Participating in the intervention was associated with significantly faster performance on one objective cognitive task that measures processing speed and visual scanning. The intervention group also reported improvement on subjective measures of cognitive impairment and cognitive self-efficacy |
| McDougall et al (2011)28 | CCT | 22 female and male non-CNS older cancer survivors, with a mean age of 73.86 years and experienced treatment-induced memory impairments | Memory intervention vs health training intervention over a 2-year period | Subjective measure: MSEQ and MIA; Objective measure: HVLT-R for verbal memory; VMT-R for visual memory | The memory intervention group tended to improve more than the health training group in daily verbal memory performance scores, memory self-efficacy, strategy use and memory complaints |
| Schuurs and Green (2013)10 | CCT | 22 female and male non-CNS cancer survivors, with a mean age of 58.2 years and immediately completed cancer treatment | 4-week group-based cognitive rehabilitation treatment vs no intervention cancer survivors vs normal adults | Subjective measure: FACT-Cog and MASQ; Objective measure: RBANS for immediate and delayed memory; TMT for attention and executive function | The intervention was effective in improving overall cognitive function, visuospatial performance, immediate memory and delayed memory |
| Von Ah et al (2012)29 | RCT | 82 female breast cancer survivors, with a mean age of 56.5 years old, and at post–cancer treatment for at least 1 year | 8-week group-based memory training vs waitlist control | Subjective measure: FACT-Cog; Objective measure: RAVLT for verbal memory; UFOV for objective speed of process |
Memory training intervention improved memory performance at 2-month follow-up (P < .05); speed of processing training improved processing speed at postintervention and 2-month follow-up (both P < .05). Both interventions were associated with improvements in perceived cognitive functioning, symptom distress and quality of life |
Abbreviations: BRIEF, Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function; BVMT-R, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised; CBT, Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy; CCT, Controlled Clinical Trial; CIS, Checklist Individual Strength; CNS, Central Nervous System; CVLT, California Verbal Learning Test; EEG, Electroencephalography; FACT-Cog, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Cognitive Function; HVLT-R, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised; MASQ, Multiple Ability Self-report Questionnaire; MSEQ, Memory Self-Efficacy Questionnaire; MIA, Meta-memory in Adulthood; PAOFI, Patient’s Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory; PCA, Perceived Cognitive Abilities; PCI, Perceived Cognitive Impairment; RAVLT, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; RBANS, Repeatable Battery for Neuropsychological Status; RCT, Randomized Controlled Trial; TMT, Trail Making Test; UFOV, Useful Field of View; VMT-R, Visuospatial Memory Test–Revised.