Integrative Neuro-social Cognitive Strategy Programme for Instilling REcovery (INSPIRE) a Community-Based Cognitive Remediation Trial
NCT ID: NCT06286202
Last Updated: 2026-01-27
Study Results
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Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
160 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-08-06
2027-12-31
Brief Summary
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Therefore, the aims of the study are:
* To investigate the effects of cognitive remediation on various cognitive skills (such as attention, memory, problem-solving, facial expression recognition, taking others' perspectives etc), for participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders in community mental health settings.
* To investigate if factors such as participants' motivation for engagement and social interaction can affect changes in cognitive skills and functional ability.
Participants in the treatment group will attend computer-based cognitive exercises to improve their cognitive skills. They will also participate in group sessions facilitated by therapists to learn how to utilize strategies learned from the computer sessions in their daily lives. Participants in the control group will attend the usual rehabilitation activities in their respective community-based psychiatric rehabilitation centers.
This research study will compare the differences in their cognitive performance, functional ability and recovery immediately after the intervention and 8 weeks later.
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Detailed Description
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Cognitive remediation is a form of intervention that addresses cognitive impairments of persons with psychiatric conditions, in order to improve real-world functioning. There are several approaches to cognitive remediation. One of the well-studied cognitive remediation programmes is the Neuropsychological and Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR), which consists of computer-assisted cognitive exercises, followed by bridging sessions to generalise strategies learnt to daily living. NEAR is conducted in groups of 5-8 clients and is facilitated by 1-2 therapists (Medalia, Revheim and Herlands, 2009). It uses drill-and-practice rehearsal method to improve discrete cognitive skills, as well as strategy-learning method to equip clients with strategies to overcome cognitive challenges in different functional scenarios. NEAR has been implemented in inpatient wards, supported housing settings and outpatient rehabilitation settings in United States and other countries, largely with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders clients (Medalia et.al., 2000, 2003, 2019). In Singapore, cognitive remediation has been conducted in early psychosis intervention service with positive results (Chong et.al., 2021).
Meta-analyses of cognitive remediation has shown that while the rehearsal approach improves cognitive performance, the strategy learning approach has a greater effect size on functional outcomes (McGurk et.al., 2007; Wykes et.al., 2011). Deepening strategy learning in cognitive remediation is thus an important ingredient within cognitive remediation. In occupational therapy practice, the Multicontext Treatment Approach has been established as a credible and evidence-based framework on strategy learning (Toglia et.al, 2011, 2020). It utilises an over-arching metacognitive strategy approach that focuses on promoting self-awareness, self-monitoring skills, strategy generation and effective strategy use across a wide range of functional activities. The therapist works closely with the service user to determine single or multiple strategies that can be applied across a broad range of occupations, activities and tasks (Toglia, 2018). Thus, incorporating the Multicontext Treatment Approach as a strategy learning framework within NEAR will enhance skills acquisition for persons with cognitive impairment and may yield better functional outcomes.
In addition, literature over the past decade has highlighted the overlapping constructs between neurocognition, social cognition and negative symptoms in the pathway between symptomatology and functional outcomes (Hajdúk, et.al., 2021; Ventura et.al., 2009). Therefore, integrated neuro and social cognitive remediation have been developed, with some positive findings (DeMare et.al., 2019; Tan et.al., 2018) Such interventions, when contextualised to service users' occupational context, have been shown to improve social functioning and community independence (Mueller et.al., 2015. Furthermore, negative symptoms such as low motivation (ie: avolition) appears to play a significant mediating role in the outcomes of cognitive remediation (Lynch et.al., 2022). Therefore, strategies to enhance motivation, specifically the self-awareness and monitoring of motivation (ie: metamotivation) have also been considered as part of strategy learning.
In light of recent advancement in the research of cognitive remediation, this study attempts to integrate current knowledge in the various therapeutic ingredients of cognitive remediation to deliver an adapted NEAR intervention that meets the needs of community-dwelling persons with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. The adapted NEAR intervention, which comprises of computer-based cognitive exercises and bridging groups, will be implemented in five community psychiatric rehabilitation centers, namely: 1) Anglican Care Center-Hougang; 2) Anglican Care Center-Simei; 3) Anglican Care Center-Bukit Batok; 4) Anglican Care Center-Yishun and 5) Anglican Care Center-Pasir Ris.
1. To investigate the effects of cognitive remediation on:
* neurocognition (measured by Brief Assessment of Cognition)
* social cognition (measured by Bell Lysaker Emotion Recognition Task)
* functional outcomes (Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure).
2. To investigate the mediators for change (eg: motivation and negative symptoms) in cognitive performance and functional outcomes.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Cognitive Remediation: Adapted Neuropsychological and Education Approach to Remediation (NEAR)
NEAR consists of using carefully selected computer cognitive games to restore cognitive functioning through rehearsal and strategy learning. It will be delivered 3 times a week for 12 weeks at the center. The duration of each session within the week is as follows: 1) First session: 45 min computer-assisted cognitive exercises + 30 min bridging group; 2) Second session: 30 min computer-assisted cognitive exercises + 45 min bridging group; 3) Third session: 45 min computer-assisted cognitive exercises. Computer-assisted cognitive exercises are sessions where participants engage in cognitive games that target different cognitive domains. In addition, the Multicontext Treatment Approach to strategy learning will be carried out. The metacognitive framework of self-evaluation and activity mediation will also be utilized. Bridging groups are conducted twice a week, to aid transfer of learning from the computer game sessions to the participants' everyday life.
Cognitive Remediation: Adapted Neuropsychological and Education Approach to Remediation (NEAR)
NEAR consists of computer-assisted cognitive exercises to restore cognitive functioning through rehearsal and strategy learning. Based on the results of the baseline assessments, the therapist will complete the Cognitive Remediation Treatment Plan, to outline targeted cognitive domains and functional goals. During the cognitive games sessions, the Multicontext Treatment Approach will be used, where error patterns are identified. The participants will work on metacognition and use of strategies to overcome challenges faced during the computer games sessions. Bridging groups may include activities for participants to utilize strategies learnt during the computer game sessions to everyday living. Participants will also learn about cognitive impairments and how lifestyle modifications, mood regulation etc can affect cognitive performance. In addition, they will learn about metamotivation and build awareness about their motivation levels through self- reflection and self-monitoring.
Standard Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Anglican Care Centers
Participants in the control arm will attend their scheduled activities at their respective Anglican Care Centers. The Anglican Care Centers run a variety of activities to provide psychosocial rehabilitation for clients with serious mental illness. These may include vocational training such as training in a retail shop or café, instrumental activities of daily living training (eg: taking public transport, money management), psychoeducation, social skills training etc. Participants in the control arm will not be enrolled into the cognitive remediation.
Standard Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Anglican Care Centers
Participants in the control arm will attend their usual psychiatric rehabilitation activities. These activities may include vocational training, community living skills training, psychoeducation, social skills training and peer support etc. These activities are also undertaken by participants in the experimental arm.
Interventions
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Cognitive Remediation: Adapted Neuropsychological and Education Approach to Remediation (NEAR)
NEAR consists of computer-assisted cognitive exercises to restore cognitive functioning through rehearsal and strategy learning. Based on the results of the baseline assessments, the therapist will complete the Cognitive Remediation Treatment Plan, to outline targeted cognitive domains and functional goals. During the cognitive games sessions, the Multicontext Treatment Approach will be used, where error patterns are identified. The participants will work on metacognition and use of strategies to overcome challenges faced during the computer games sessions. Bridging groups may include activities for participants to utilize strategies learnt during the computer game sessions to everyday living. Participants will also learn about cognitive impairments and how lifestyle modifications, mood regulation etc can affect cognitive performance. In addition, they will learn about metamotivation and build awareness about their motivation levels through self- reflection and self-monitoring.
Standard Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Anglican Care Centers
Participants in the control arm will attend their usual psychiatric rehabilitation activities. These activities may include vocational training, community living skills training, psychoeducation, social skills training and peer support etc. These activities are also undertaken by participants in the experimental arm.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Completed at least ten years of formal education with English as the main instructional language. Participants need to be able to converse in English and understand English instructions, as the cognitive remediation program will be conducted in English.
Exclusion Criteria
* Unable to speak and understand English.
* Hospitalized within the past one month.
* Global Assessment of Functioning score of 30 or below, as participants who are too low functioning are unable to benefit from a strategy learning approach.
21 Years
60 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Singapore Anglican Community Services
UNKNOWN
Singapore Institute of Technology
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Bhing-Leet Tan
Professor and Cluster Director
Principal Investigators
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Bhing-Leet Tan, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Bhing-Leet Tan
Locations
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Anglican Care Center-Bukit Batok
Singapore, , Singapore
Anglican Care Center-Hougang
Singapore, , Singapore
Anglican Care Center-Pasir Ris
Singapore, , Singapore
Anglican Care Center-Simei
Singapore, , Singapore
Anglican Care Center-Yishun
Singapore, , Singapore
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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References
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Tan BL, Tan N, Koh V, Poh L, Medalia A. Integrative Neuro-social cognitive Strategy Programme for Instilling REcovery (INSPIRE): a community-based cognitive remediation trial-study procotol. BMC Psychiatry. 2024 Sep 19;24(1):621. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-06070-x.
Other Identifiers
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RECAS-0306
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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