Psychiatric conditions are each defined by different set of symptoms, however, they often share common characteristics such as impairments in cognitive and social functioning. These impairments can cause significant distress and disrupt daily functioning by preventing individuals from actively participating in school or work, maintaining healthy relationships with others, and engaging in everyday activities independently. The goal of this clinical trial is to examine if action-based cognitive remediation (ABCR) therapy, a type of cognitive training program, works to treat cognitive impairments in participants with psychiatric disorders. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Whether the intervention will improve the thinking skills of participants with different types of psychiatric conditions * Whether the intervention will improve social skills and work performance * Can this program be easily used in a regular hospital, and do the people who take part in it find it helpful and worth their time * Whether the improvements from the intervention last for a long time after the training is over. Researchers will compare how much the thinking skills of participants change during an 8-week waiting period (where they get no treatment) to how much they change during the 8-week training program to see if the training makes a bigger difference in helping them think and live better. Participants will : * Complete a series of questionnaires on memory, thinking skills, and mental health at the beginning of the study * Wait 8 weeks without any intervention or training * Complete the series of questionnaires again * Complete an 8-week training intervention of ABCR where they will use special computer programs to practice real-life skills and tasks like planning a meal or making an appointment * Complete the series of questionnaires and an additional structured interview to assess acceptability and feasibility of the intervention. * 3 month later, complete questionnaires for a final time.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
160
Action-Based Cognitive Remediation (ABCR) is a type of cognitive remediation therapy, an intervention that focuses on mitigating cognitive deficits to enhance everyday functioning through behavioural learning strategies. The goal of ABCR is to increase real-world transferability of cognitive skills onto daily functioning through group discussions and computerized exercises. ABCR programs typically last 10 weeks with 2-hour sessions usually twice per week. Participants get placed into groups of 4-6 people with two therapists. Each session involves computer-based exercises and group discussion of cognitive strategies related to the theme of the day. Participants then role-play everyday functional tasks (e.g., meal planning, scheduling appointments) that reflect the focus of the session. Sessions conclude by linking content to individual goals and identifying cognitively challenging daily activities to practice between sessions.
Change from Baseline in neurocognitive performance from baseline to post-intervention, relative to change observed during the 8-week wait-list period (Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry)
Investigators will assess cognitive functioning using the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry, from which a composite score will be calculated to represent overall cognitive performance. The test is comprised of five subscales: the Verbal Learning Test scores range from 0-30, the Working Memory Test scores range from 0-24, the Verbal Fluency scores represent number of correct responses with no fixed maximum score, the Verbal Learning Test-Delayed scores range from 0-10, the Processing Speed Test scores range from 0-30.
Time frame: Participants complete the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry at baseline, 1 week post-waiting period, 1 week post-intervention, and 3-months post-intervention
Change in Social Cognition from Baseline to Post-Intervention Relative to the 8-Week Wait-List Period (Brief Social Cognition and Emotional Processing)
Investigators will assess social cognition using the Brief Social Cognition and Emotional Processing assessment. The Brief Social Cognition and Emotional Processing includes tasks assessing emotional processing and social cognitive abilities. Scores are calculated based on participant performance on the assessment tasks, with higher scores indicating better social cognitive performance. Scores below 60 suggest impaired social cognition and functional impairment, whereas scores of 60 or above suggest intact social cognitive functioning.
Time frame: Participants complete the BSCOPE at baseline, 1 week post-waiting period, 1 week post-intervention, and 3-months post-intervention.
Change from Baseline in Community Functioning from Baseline to Post-Intervention, Relative to Change Observed During the 8-Week Wait-List Period (Role Functioning Scale)
The investigators will measure community functioning through the Role Functioning Scale. Each of the 4 items of the Role Functioning Scale is scored on a scale of 1 to 7. The total score is from 4 to 28 with a higher score indicating greater community functioning.
Time frame: Participants complete the Role Functioning Scale at baseline, 1 week post-waiting period, 1 week post-intervention, and 3-months post-intervention.
Change from Baseline in Goal Attainment from Baseline to Post-Intervention, Relative to Change Observed During the 8-Week Wait-List Period (Goal Attainment Scaling)
The investigators will measure individualized goal achievement using Goal Attainment Scaling. Participants identify personal goals at baseline, and attainment of each goal is scored on a standardized scale ranging from -2 to +2, where higher scores indicate greater goal attainment.
Time frame: Participants complete Goal Attainment Scaling at baseline, 1 week post-waiting period, 1 week post-intervention, and 3-months post-intervention.
Change from Baseline in Social and Occupational Functioning from Baseline to Post-Intervention, Relative to Change Observed During the 8-Week Wait-List Period (Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale)
The investigators will measure social and occupational functioning using the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). The SOFAS is scored on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better social and occupational functioning.
Time frame: Participants complete the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale at baseline, 1 week post-waiting period, 1 week post-intervention, and 3-months post-intervention.
Feasibility of the intervention
The investigators will measure the feasibility of the intervention through a structured interview with participants using the RE-AIM dimensions and CFIR Hybrid Framework
Time frame: Participants will conduct a structured interview 1 week-post intervention
Acceptability of the intervention
The investigators will measure the acceptability of the intervention through a structured interview with participants using the RE-AIM dimensions and CFIR Hybrid Framework
Time frame: Participants will conduct a structured interview 1 week post-intervention
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