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Feasibility and acceptability of cognitive adaptation training for first‐episode psychosis
Author(s) -
Allott Kelly A.,
Killackey Eoin,
Sun Pamela,
Brewer Warrick J.,
Velligan Dawn I.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/eip.12207
Subject(s) - psychosocial , intervention (counseling) , psychology , cognition , attendance , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , clinical psychology , psychosis , psychiatry , economics , economic growth
Aim Cognitive and functioning impairments are present early in the course of psychotic disorder and remain one of the greatest treatment challenges. Cognitive adaptation training ( CAT ) is a compensatory approach to psychosocial intervention that is underpinned by a model that incorporates the role of cognition in daily functioning. CAT has established effectiveness in chronic schizophrenia but has received limited investigation in first‐episode psychosis ( FEP ). The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of CAT in young people with FEP . Methods This was a single‐arm feasibility study of CAT conducted at the E arly P sychosis P revention and I ntervention C entre, M elbourne, A ustralia. Five FEP participants received manually guided CAT from a fully trained CAT therapist. A range of feasibility and acceptability measures were recorded throughout the study, including participant and case manager satisfaction ratings. Results All participants completed the CAT intervention and session attendance rates were very high (95.3%). Participants and their case managers indicated strong satisfaction with CAT as indicated by positive mean ratings on all satisfaction items, although there was a greater range in the participant ratings. Importantly, CAT did not have a negative effect on existing case management, with case managers reporting that CAT enhanced their treatment. Conclusions This study provides evidence that CAT is a highly feasible and acceptable intervention in FEP , which may be easily integrated within existing services. The effectiveness of CAT in improving functional outcomes in FEP is worthy of investigation in a larger trial.