Authors (including presenting author) :
Yam KNK, Liu PY, Cheung YL, Chan ST, Yuen LH, Yuen WY, Wong A, Ieong LT, U FI, Chu MHW, Poon YC
Affiliation :
Occupational Therapy Department, Kwai Chung Hospital
Introduction :
Cognitive impairment is a prevalent issue among individuals recovering from various psychiatric disorders, impacting their daily functioning across multiple domains such as academic, vocational, community living, interpersonal relationships, and overall quality of life. Cognitive remediation has been empirically validated as an effective treatment for psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, first episode psychosis, depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, and substance use disorders. We developed a pilot 20-session cognitive remediation program incorporating computer-assisted cognitive training and bridging skills training. This program targets key cognitive domains such as attention, executive function, learning and memory, language, perceptual-motor skills, and social cognition, utilizing both compensatory and restorative approaches to enhance functional outcomes. The program is delivered individually, one to two times a week, with each session lasting 60 minutes under the guidance of occupational therapists.
Objectives :
To evaluate the outcomes of a pilot cognitive remediation program in improving cognitive and overall functioning in individuals recovering from mental illness.
Methodology :
Participants aged 17 to 60, in recovery from various psychiatric disorders and experiencing cognitive complaints, were recruited from occupational therapy services to participate in the 20-session cognitive remediation program between 2022 and 2024. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) were employed as outcome measures to assess cognitive and overall functioning before and after the program.
Result & Outcome :
Thirty-one participants completed the 20-session cognitive remediation program from 2022 to 2024. The results demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive domains, including speed of processing (t = 5.24, p<0.001), attention/vigilance (t = 2.61, p=0.007), verbal learning (t = 2.07, p<0.001), visual learning (t = 3.38, p=0.001), reasoning and problem solving (t = 2.80, p<0.001), neurocognitive composite score (t = 5.29, p<0.001), and overall functioning (t = 5.23, p<0.001).
These findings suggest that the cognitive remediation program is effective in enhancing cognitive abilities and overall functioning in individuals recovering from mental illness, supporting its potential as a valuable therapeutic intervention. Further study is worth considering to be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Cognitive Remediation Program and its treatment outcomes.
