Abstract
MS-rehab is a novel MS-specific software system designed to support the phases of cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis. MS-rehab supports the clinical operators in: the Multidimensional Assessment phase, to build the cognitive profile of the patient; the Definition of Rehabilitation Program phase, to set up rehabilitation exercise sessions; performing live and long term monitoring of the patients in the Cognitive Rehabilitation (CR) Cycle. MS-rehab also supports patients in their execution of the rehabilitation exercises. Finally, it allows therapists to insert new instances of the neuropsychological profile after follow-up tests, to measure the treatment effects, and to tune the next rehabilitation cycles. The version 2.0 of MS-rehab extends the first prototype (version 1.0) with many rehabilitative exercises (52, with respect to 23 of the first prototype), and new advanced functionalities and components. It was optimized and tuned for routine clinical use thanks to a formative usability study. A preliminary assessment of MS-rehab in a pilot study involving a few MS patients gave indications that our system is potentially effective for CR and does not have negative side effects. In addition, the patients who used the systems gave a positive feedback on it, both on system usability, and as an instrument that motivates the patients in their CR process.