ABSTRACT

Objective : This study was conducted to examine the theories, intervention method, and clinical effects of the prism adaptation treatment in stroke patients with spatial neglect. Methods : We systematically searched published studies related to prism adaptation treatment in the SCOPUS and EBSCOhost databases from 2000 to 2015. The key words used in the search were“prism adaptation neglect”and“prism adaptation stroke.”Twenty studies were selected and analyzed out of 230 studies reviewed during a preliminary search in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results : The shift angle used in the prism adaptation treatment in the 20 analyzed studies has a mean of 10.7°. Assessments were at the functional level of daily living such as FIM and transitional test of spatial neglect, such as a line bisection and cancellation. The intervention periods were different in accordance with the study designs, from 1 day to 8 weeks. The duration of the effects differed according to the study designs, from 1 day to 6 months. In a study on the chronic stage, the result showed the effects of prism adaptation for more than 3 years. Most studies of prism adaptation showed a determined effect on spatial neglect recovery, and improved cognitive functions such as environment exploration or mental imagery, as well as improved eye movements, and functional improvements such as activities of daily living. Conclusion : This study provided evidence regarding intervention methods and clinical effects related to prism adaptation treatment in stroke patients with spatial neglect. It is necessary to make use of the prism adaptation treatment for national clinical occupational therapy, in that various interventions have different effects for stroke patients with spatial neglect.