Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT): is it a feasible and acceptable psychological treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD)?

Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) is a psychological treatment which aims to improve cognitive functioning and has shown to be effective in reducing cognitive dysfunction and improving social function mainly in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (McGurk et al, 2007). It is distinct from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in targeting cognitive skills (e.g. working memory, long-term memory, cognitive flexibility, planning, organisational ability) rather than thoughts, beliefs, or affect. Reeder and colleagues (2012) have designed and completed initial feasibility testing for a computerised CRT package for Schizophrenia: CIRCuiTS (Computerised Interactive Remediation of Cognition – Training for Schizophrenia). This is a modular package including tasks of a wide range of cognitive functions (particularly executive function and memory), designed to allow therapy programmes to be flexibly designed to incorporate only relevant tasks. With the latter taken into consideration a new CIRCuiTS program will be developed to only include excercises known to target the cognitive deficits identified in consumers with BPD. The aim of the new CIRCuits program seeks to target the specific cognitive deficits found in consumers with BPD (from phase 1) to improve attention, memory, and planning. The new (CRT) CIRCuiTS program will be piloted to 30 consumers to assess the acceptability and feasibility. Participation involves taking part in a group run CIRCuiTS program delivered by a trained advanced CRT practitioner. The program involves 45 minutes working on a computer program that focuses on cognitive skills and 15 minutes discussing how these computer programs relate to thinking skills needed in day to day life. Participants will be required to attend twice a week for around 20 weeks.