Mindset: Cognitive Remediation Intervention to Facilitate Education for Young Adults with a Psychotic Spectrum Disorder – A Pilot Feasibility Study with Patient Experiences

Abstract

Young adults with psychotic-spectrum disorder have lower odds of attaining educational goals, partly due to cognitive problems. Cognitive remediation (CR) could improve cognitive- and potentially academic functioning. The current study examined an adapted CR-intervention ‘Mindset’ aimed at academic functioning for people with a psychotic-spectrum disorder in secondary education. Pilot-feasibility study of Mindset including the experience of nine participants with psychotic-spectrum disorder who received Mindset and six CR trainers. Post-CR interviews with participants and trainers were subjected to qualitative evaluation. Furthermore, preliminary results from pre- to post-CR changes on the College Self-Efficacy Inventory (CSEI), Cognitive Problems and Strategies Assessment (CPSA) and Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS) are presented using Reliable Change Index (RCI) and effect-sizes (Cohen’s d). Qualitative evaluation showed that overall experience with Mindset was positive for participants and trainers. Mindset was not experienced as too difficult and aligned well with education. However, tailoring to the individual is required. Effect sizes in change from pre- to post-CR were small for school satisfaction (d = 0.25) and self-reported cognitive problems (d = 0.12), small to medium for increases in self-efficacy (d = 0.49) and large for increases in strategy use (d = 3.58). Feasibility of Mindset was good in terms of adaptation and expansion, implementation and limited efficacy. However, concerning acceptability, drop-out prior to Mindset was high and Mindset needs adjustment in terms of individual tailoring and language. Future studies have to attest to its efficacy.