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Modification of performance on the Span of Apprehension Task in a group of young people with early onset psychosis
Author(s) -
Ueland Torill,
Rishovd Rund Bjørn,
Borg Nancy Elliot,
Newton Elisabeth,
Purvis Rick,
Wykes Til
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2004.00378.x
Subject(s) - psychology , apprehension , attention span , ceiling effect , psychosis , audiology , reinforcement , psychological intervention , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , medicine , cognition , social psychology , cognitive psychology , alternative medicine , pathology
The aim of the study was to examine the effect of contingent monetary reinforcement and enhanced instructions on Span of Apprehension (SPAN) performance in a group of young people with early onset psychosis. Twenty‐five participants (mean age 16.7) received a 3‐ and 12‐letter version of the SPAN task six times: baseline, three x intervention, post‐test, and 10‐day follow‐up. No significant effects of time were found in the 3‐letter condition, indicating a ceiling effect for accuracy. In the 12‐letter condition detection rates improved significantly reaching a maximum at the third intervention ( p < 0.001). Performance showed a temporary decline at post‐test, but performance returned to the maximum level at the 10‐day follow‐up. The study suggests that SPAN performance can be improved in young people with early onset psychosis using relatively simple interventions and that performance gains are relatively durable.