140 Background: Brain tumor survivors often face unique challenges from chronic cognitive deficits such as memory problems or executive dysfunction. Cognitive rehabilitation is a relatively new field. With few well-controlled studies in cancer patients, oncology and supportive care teams lack accessible, reliable tools to address cognitive dysfunction. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and potential efficacy of two behavioral interventions for brain tumor survivors. Methods: We compared two programs, each with 8 individual treatment sessions and daily homework. Goal Management Training (GMT) is a neuroscience-based integration of mindfulness and strategy training. The Brain Health Workshop (BHW) offers supportive psychoeducation about living with a brain tumor. Using a prospective randomized design, 6 brain tumor patients (with chronic cognitive dysfunction, ≥ 3 months post-radiation or surgery) were enrolled in GMT or BHW and completed a battery of measures at baseline and post-training. Composite scores were calculated by domain, with objective tests of attention, processing speed, memory, and executive functioning, and subjective measures of coping, mood, behavioral regulation and cognitive symptoms. Patient feedback was obtained in post-training qualitative interviews. Results: All patients (Table 1) completed all study activities. Analyses of group differences in composite change scores showed greater improvement in executive functions and greater attainment of pre-training functional goals in the GMT group (p's < .05). The BHW group showed a trend toward greater improvement in mood and behavioral regulation that did not reach statistical significance. Patients in both groups reported satisfaction with their program and continued, frequent (daily to every other day) use of their new knowledge following training. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of cognitive rehabilitation for brain tumor survivors between 1 and 8 years post-diagnosis. Results suggest unique benefits of each intervention that will be further explored in a larger clinical trial. [Table: see text]
Perampanel in brain tumor‐related epilepsy: Observational pilot study