Pilot study of cognitive remediation and motivational interviewing in youth at risk of serious mental illness

Early Interv Psychiatry. 2018 Dec;12(6):1193-1197. doi: 10.1111/eip.12520. Epub 2017 Nov 22.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this pilot project was to determine the recruitment feasibility for a computerized cognitive remediation treatment (CRT) for youth at-risk of serious mental illness (SMI), and treatment adherence following an adjunct treatment of motivational interviewing (MI).

Methods: Twelve youth at-risk of SMI were randomized to receive either CRT or CRT plus MI. CRT was conducted over 10 wk during which time 5 MI sessions were available for the CRT + MI group.

Results: The recruitment rate was 55%. The attrition rate from the study was 25% and on average participants completed 33% of the CRT sessions, with no group differences in the number of CRT sessions completed.

Conclusions: Treatment adherence was low. Participants described the CRT as easy and unchallenging. Future recommendations include engaging youth at-risk into CRT programs based on cognitive deficits, measuring intervention satisfaction and offering access to supportive therapies for concerns other than cognition.

Keywords: at-risk youth; attenuated syndromes; cognition; cognitive remediation; motivational interviewing.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cognitive Remediation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Motivational Interviewing*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prodromal Symptoms
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted
  • Young Adult