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PO:12:307 Group-based, telerehabilitation for executive dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus: a pilot study on efficacy, retention and customization of care

lupusscimed · 2026-03-01 · canonical JSON source

5 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Objectives Telerehabilitation can be used to deliver cost-effective, accessible cognitive interventions for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) living remote from treatment centres and/or with mobility restrictions. Group-format delivery further enhances cost-effectiveness and clinical benefits. We remotely delivered a tried-and-true intervention for executive function (‘Goal Management Training’ [GMT]) to two groups of patients with SLE and executive function complaints to examine: (1) efficacy and predictors of treatment response; and (2) retention of benefits at 2+ months post-treatment.Methods N=11 adult patients (10 female) with average age of 28.95 years (SD=10.86) and SLE disease duration 12.40 (SD=5.92) since diagnosis, and damage 0.45 (SD=.93) severity based on the SLICC/ACR Damage Index were recruited. Patients underwent 7 weeks of group-based GMT, a well-validated, therapist-delivered psychoeducation intervention to enhance attention, focused performance, and attainment of goals. Pre-to-post outcomes comprised: GMT training questionnaire, Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) and a clinical interview examining strategy use. Predictors of treatment response were cognitive aggregate scores (manual motor dexterity and speed; attention and processing speed; memory; executive function; timed tests; untimed tests) and demographic and clinical variables.Results Significant improvement was demonstrated on the GMT questionnaire (p=.01) and Q-LES-Q (p=.01), but not the CFQ; GMT questionnaire benefits were retained at follow-up (p<.05). Better scores on manual speed and dexterity (p=.03) and the timed test aggregate (p=.01) predicted better treatment response on the GMT questionnaire; the timed test aggregate also predicted better response on Q-LES-Q (p=.049). Most patients reported using most strategies regularly post-treatment and at follow-up. No demographic or clinical variables significantly predicted treatment response.Conclusions This preliminary study of group-based, remotely delivered executive function training conducted in a clinical setting shows promise for durably improving executive function, with ongoing use of trained strategies in everyday life in patients with SLE regardless of age or time since diagnosis. Placing patients with slower processing speed together in groups, and delivering the intervention at a reduced pace is a customization that may improve outcomes. The study provides the foundation to carry out a larger scale trial using randomized control trial methodology.