Cognitive Training to Enhance VA Work Program Outcomes

VA Connecticut Healthcare System

Status: Completed

Conditions: PTSD; Schizophrenia; Mental Illness; Bipolar Disorder; Depression

Treatments: Behavioral: Nintendo Brain Age; Behavioral: Cognitive Remediation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT00829400

D4752R (Other Grant/Funding Number)

MDB0010-01101

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether augmenting work services with cognitive remediation can improve vocational outcomes for psychiatrically disabled participants in VA work services.

Full description

Background: Our previous RR&D funded study demonstrated significantly better vocational outcomes for people with schizophrenia when cognitive training supplemented their participation in Incentive Therapy. We have found in a subsequent NIMH funded study involving cognitive training and supported employment that competitive employment outcomes were better for those who received cognitive training. Moreover, we found that patients with the poorest community function at intake were very unlikely to obtain competitive employment unless they received the cognitive training. The current study will test the effectiveness of cognitive training by extending it to a broader range of VA patients with psychotic disorders participating in all types of VA work services currently available, including Incentive Therapy, Compensated Work Therapy, and Supported Employment. We plan to offer it to any patient with a psychotic disorder who is unlikely to obtain competitive employment without additional services. We will also compare two types of cognitive training to determine whether cognitive game software works as well narrowly focused cognitive exercises.

Design and Method: This is a randomized clinical trial in which 80 VA patients referred for VA work services and who meet criteria for psychotic disorder and impaired community function will be randomized to one of two types of cognitive training. There will be two conditions with approximately 40 subjects per condition. Intake procedures will include psychosocial, neuropsychological, and psychiatric assessments. These assessments will be repeated at 6-months and 12 month follow-up. Cognitive training will consist of computer-based cognitive exercises of attention, memory and problem-solving and a weekly group that focuses on improving work behaviors. One of the computer-based systems employs engaging cognitive game software and the other uses specially designed exercises that narrowly focus on discrete cognitive processes. Work services will be provided as usual to both conditions. Primary endpoints are measures of productive activity including obtaining competitive employment, total hours worked, and money earned. Secondary endpoints include neuropsychological, quality of life and health status changes. The study will be for three years.

Enrollment: 77 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participant in VA work services
• Chronic and disabling psychiatric illness

Exclusion criteria

• Neurological Disease that may affect cognition
• Primary substance abuse
• Developmental Disability

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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77 participants in 2 patient groups

Posit Science

Experimental group

Description:

Brain Fitness, Insight, and Aristotle Cognitive Software Training Suites Targeting 100 hours of training

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive Remediation

Nintendo Brain Age

Active Comparator group

Description:

Brain Age 2 Nintendo DS Portable Device for home or office use, targeting 100 hours of training

Treatment:

Behavioral: Nintendo Brain Age