None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
We have known for some time that serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe depression cause significant problems in thinking skills such as attention, concentration, memory or planning. Recently we have become aware that they also cause problems in social cognitive skills such as recognising a person’s emotional state from the expression on their face or being able to think in another person’s shoes. Both of these sets of skills- neurocognition and social cognition – have serious flow on effects upon a person’s ability to function at school, in work or in the community. Unfortunately medications does not help with these problems, but psychological treatments – cognitive remediation and social cognitive remediation therapy does. This study will trial different combinations of these treatments to see if they have separate effects upon treatment outcome. The study will be run in frontline mental health services which will mean that the skills and knowledge will be communicated to the clinical teams maximising benefit.
Interventions
Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) is a treatment that has been in use for the past 20 years. In our CRT program, we ask people to use computer games sourced from a wide variety of educational and online sources (eg HappyNeuron). The games are assessed using the methodology described in the Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR), a widely available manualised therapy, and are selected for individual participants on the basis of their neuropsychological profile. The trea
Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) is a treatment that has been in use for the past 20 years. In our CRT program, we ask people to use computer games sourced from a wide variety of educational and online sources (eg HappyNeuron). The games are assessed using the methodology described in the Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR), a widely available manualised therapy, and are selected for individual participants on the basis of their neuropsychological profile. The treatment was provided either individually or in small groups (<5 participants) by trained and supervised therapists (psychologists, Occupational Therapists or psychiatric nurses). The therapy was provided in an community health centre, each session lasting approximately 1 hour, twice a week for 10 weeks. Social Cognitive Remediation Therapy (SCRT) helps you recognise people’s emotions and trains you to think about how other people think and feel. It also helps you examine your own biases in how you think. The treatment is based upon the Social Cognition and Interaction Therapy (SCIT), a widely available manualised therapy for social cognitive deficits. The therapy is provided in small groups of between 3-8 participants. It was provided by therapists (psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Psychiatric Nurses) who were trained and then supervised in the treatment. The therapy was provided in an community health centre, each session lasting approximately 1 hour, twice a week for 10 weeks. Attendance at these various groups was confirmed with attendance records at specific therapy and verbally confirmed with both the case managers and the participants. Participants will receive one of two therapy conditions: Cognitive Remediation Therapy plus Social Cognitive Remediation Therapy Cognitive Remediation Therapy plus an additional therapy
Sponsors
Westmead Hospital
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. A diagnosis of a severe mental illness and neurocognitive or social cognitive deficits; 2. Are aged 16 – 30 years; 3. Able to provide consent (and parent/guardian if required; 4. Have reasonable English skills.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1.Developmental delay (IQ < 75); 2.Current substance abuse or substance dependence other than caffeine or nicotine; 3. History of head injury (> 10 minutes unconsciousness). 4. Electroconvulsive Therapy in last six months.
Outcome results
None listed