Working Memory Training in Adults With Substance Abuse and Executive Function Deficits.

Örebro Läns Landsting

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 2

Conditions: Antisocial Personality; Depression; Anxiety; Substance Abuse; Executive Dysfunction; Reading Disabilities

Treatments: Behavioral: Computerized Cogmed working memory training; Behavioral: Treatment as usual

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02068261

RA02

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a computerized working memory training program on substance abuse, psychosocial functioning, cognitive performance and psychiatric problems in adults with substance abuse and attention problems.

Full description

The primary aim of this study is to examine the effects of 5 weeks of computerized working memory training on substance abuse. Secondary aims are to explore whether effects are mediated by changes in executive functions and/or moderated by personality. Also, effects on measures of psychosocial functioning, depression, anxiety and attention will be explored. Follow-up assessment will be conducted at 6 months post training.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Treatment seeking adults with substance abuse and executive function deficits.

Exclusion criteria

• Acute intoxication or abstinence symptoms of any substance.
• Psychosis.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Cogmed working memory training

Experimental group

Description:

30-40 minutes of Cogmed computerized working memory training 3-5 days a week for 5-8 weeks. Every training session consists of a set of visual- and verbal working memory tasks that are trained on during the session.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Computerized Cogmed working memory training

Treatment as usual

Active Comparator group

Description:

Treatment as usual can consist of medication, psychotherapy, counseling, and psychological assessment. After a 8 week period participants in this arm well be offered Cogmed working memory training.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Treatment as usual