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A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Types of Memory Training Programs in People With a Diagnosis of Mental Illness.

Not Applicable
Conditions
Memory Impairment
Interventions
Other: Memory Intervention
Registration Number
NCT01708200
Lead Sponsor
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Brief Summary

This study will compare the effectiveness of a psychoeducational memory program versus a computerized memory program in individuals with mental illness. Although improvements are expected with both form of interventions, we do not know which will provide maximal benefit in this population.

Detailed Description

The aim of the current study is to compare two memory strategies, a top-down (i.e., educational and interventional)protocol vs. a bottom-up (computerized)protocol, in a population of individuals diagnosed with mental illness. Performance on ecologically validated memory tasks will be measured before and after each intervention protocol. Improvements are expected following each protocol. However, there is no evidence available to support added benefits from one protocol over another. As such, the current study will endeavour to contrast the two intervention types (top-down vs. bottom-up) to determine which, if any, provides maximal benefit.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
76
Inclusion Criteria
  • Memory impairment equivalent to 1.5 std. dev. below average for age
  • Speak and read English fluently
Exclusion Criteria
  • Older than 65 years of age
  • Significant visual impairment (e.g., cataracts, macular degeneration)
  • Motor impairment (e.g., hemiplegia on dominant side)
  • Diagnosis of Dementia
  • Alcohol and/or substance abuse (in past 3 months)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Memory InterventionMemory InterventionTwo types of memory protocols (psychoeducational vs computerized) will be compared in a population of individuals with mental illness.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Declarative Memory Measure - Hopkins Verbal Learning TestParticipants will be asked to complete this measure prior to the start of the intervention and again at the completion of the intervention (i.e., interval of 5 weeks between pre and post measurements).

Individuals participating in either protocol (i.e., top-down or bottom-up) will complete the memory measure before the commencement of the treatment and again at the end of treatment.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mood Measure - Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1993)Participants will be asked to complete this measure prior to the start of the intervention and again at the completion of the intervention (i.e., interval of 5 weeks between pre and post measurements).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

🇨🇦

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

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