Integrative Neuro-social cognitive Strategy Programme for Instilling REcovery (INSPIRE): a community-based cognitive remediation trial-study procotol.

Background: Adults with schizophrenia experience a range of neurocognitive problems that affect their daily functioning. Evidence for the efficacy of cognitive remediation in schizophrenia has been established, but its implementation in under-resourced community-based settings is less well-studied. In recent years, interventions have also focused on the strategy-learning approach in favor of drill-and-practice.

The use of virtual reality and augmented reality in psychosocial rehabilitation for adults with neurodevelopmental disorders: A systematic review.

Objectives: Virtual reality and augmented reality have been used in psychosocial rehabilitation for adults with neurodevelopmental disorders in recent years, to provide functional training in a scaffolded and appealing manner. This systematic review attempted to evaluate (1) how virtual reality or augmented reality technology was deployed, when used as an intervention for adults with neurodevelopmental disorders; and (2) how virtual or augmented reality-assisted psychosocial rehabilitation programs impacted on the functional domains of community living, employment and social participation.

Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was adopted and a search of publications between June 2012 and June 2022 was carried out.

Identifying psychiatric manifestations in schizophrenia and depression from audio-visual behavioural indicators through a machine-learning approach.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and depression (MDD) are two chronic mental disorders that seriously affect the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. We aim to develop machine-learning methods with objective linguistic, speech, facial, and motor behavioral cues to reliably predict the severity of psychopathology or cognitive function, and distinguish diagnosis groups. We collected and analyzed the speech, facial expressions, and body movement recordings of 228 participants (103 SCZ, 50 MDD, and 75 healthy controls) from two separate studies.

A gamified augmented reality vocational training program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A pilot study on acceptability and effectiveness.

Objectives: The Augmented Reality Games to Enhance Vocational Ability of Patients (REAP) was an augmented reality vocational training program that provided skills training in the context of a psychiatric rehabilitation program. It was implemented over 10 weeks and consisted of gamified augmented reality café training scenarios and bridging group activities to facilitate transfer of learning to the work context. This pilot study aimed to explore the acceptability and effectiveness of the REAP program when carried out with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities attending work therapy.

Comparative study of emotion recognition and theory of mind between major depressive disorder and schizophrenia.

Background: Social cognition as a transdiagnostic construct between major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia (SCZ) is not well understood. This may be attributed to the variability of social cognitive measures indexing the same construct. This study aims to compare emotion recognition and theory of mind domains, known to be impaired in SCZ, between MDD and SCZ.

The Effect of Therapeutic Alliance on Attitudes Toward Psychiatric Medications in Schizophrenia.

Purpose/background: The differential influence of therapeutic alliance with different health care professionals on patients' medication adherence has never been examined.

Methods/procedures: Ninety-five stable outpatients (91 patients with schizophrenia and 4 patients with schizoaffective disorder) were recruited. Individual, clinical, and medication factors were assessed, along with drug attitude (10-item Drug Attitude Inventory).

Predicting Real-World Functioning in Schizophrenia: The Relative Contributions of Neurocognition, Functional Capacity, and Negative Symptoms.

Neurocognition and functional capacity are commonly reported predictors of real-world functioning in schizophrenia. However, the additional impact of negative symptoms, specifically its subdomains, i.e.

Using the Work Behaviour Inventory and Work Environment Impact Scale to measure employment sustainability for people with severe mental illness in a vocational rehabilitation program.

Objective: People with severe mental illness often have difficulty sustaining employment. Work Behaviour Inventory and Work Environment Impact Scale are vocational assessments used by occupational therapists to evaluate the facilitators and barriers of work performance and work environment respectively. These factors may have an impact on job tenure and can inform occupational therapy practice.

Defining Occupational Competence and Occupational Identity in the Context of Recovery in Schizophrenia.

Importance: The Occupational Self Assessment (OSA) measures two constructs from the Model of Human Occupation: occupational competence and occupational identity. In the field of mental health, the recovery movement has sparked discussions about what constitutes personal, clinical, and functional recovery. However, how occupation-based terminologies are related to the recovery framework is unclear.

Plasticity of DNA methylation, functional brain connectivity and efficiency in cognitive remediation for schizophrenia.

Cognitive remediation (CR) is predicated on principles of neuroplasticity, but the actual molecular and neurocircuitry changes underlying cognitive change in individuals with impaired neuroplastic processes is poorly understood. The present study examined epigenetic-neurocircuitry-behavioral outcome measures in schizophrenia, before and after participating in a CR program that targeted higher-order cognitive functions. Outcome measures included DNA methylation of genes central to synaptic plasticity (CpG sites of Reelin promoter and BDNF promoter) from buccal swabs, resting-state functional brain connectivity and topological network efficiency, and global scores of a cognitive battery from 35 inpatients in a rehabilitative ward (18 CR, 17 non-CR) with similar premorbid IQ to 15 healthy controls.

Using the CHIME Personal Recovery Framework to Evaluate the Validity of the MHRM-10 in Individuals with Psychosis.

The recovery movement has revealed that outcomes which focuses on just symptoms and functioning may not be holistic and that consumer-rated outcomes may contribute to a more holistic and person-centric care model. However, a brief and effective measure is required in clinical settings; hence, the aim of the current study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the briefest personal recovery measure- Mental Health Recovery Measure-10 items, using the CHIME (Connectedness, Hope and optimism about the future, Identity, Meaning in life, Empowerment) personal recovery framework. 64 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were assessed at two time points, 2 weeks apart.

Automated Verbal and Non-verbal Speech Analysis of Interviews of Individuals with Schizophrenia and Depression.

Schizophrenia and depression are the two most common mental disorders associated with negative symptoms that contribute to poor functioning and quality of life for millions of patients globally. This study is part of a larger research project. The overall aim of the project is to develop an automated objective pipeline that aids clinical diagnosis and provides more insights into symptoms of mental illnesses.

An Asian study on clinical and psychological factors associated with personal recovery in people with psychosis.

Background: Despite the rising recognition of personal recovery, there is a lack of research on personal recovery in individuals with psychosis in Singapore. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the QPR-15 using the CHIME personal recovery framework and to examine its associations with clinical recovery factors.

Methods: Sixty-six stable outpatients were recruited and assessed at two time points approximately 2 weeks apart.

Non-verbal speech cues as objective measures for negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Negative symptoms in schizophrenia are associated with significant burden and possess little to no robust treatments in clinical practice today. One key obstacle impeding the development of better treatment methods is the lack of an objective measure. Since negative symptoms almost always adversely affect speech production in patients, speech dysfunction have been considered as a viable objective measure.

Engaging persons with disabilities as community teachers for experiential learning in occupational therapy education.

Background: Cultivating empathy towards persons with disabilities has been highlighted as an essential graduate attribute in the occupational therapy profession.

Purpose: With the aim to developing a more holistic understanding of disability, this project seeks to translate an experiential learning activity developed in Canada to the local Singaporean context. Small groups of two to three students were paired with a person with physical disability, known as a , for a series of visits to observe and participate in their self-care, productivity and leisure activities.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a screening instrument for cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.

Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the core features of schizophrenia. For its evaluation, current clinical practice relies on detailed neuropsychological batteries which require trained testers and considerable amount of time to administer. Therefore, a brief and reliable screening tool for identification of overall cognitive impairment prior to a detailed comprehensive neurocognitive assessment is needed in a busy clinical setting.

Factors Associated with Changes in Community Ability and Recovery After Psychiatric Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Study.

One of the key goals of psychiatric rehabilitation is to return individuals with mental illnesses back into the community via restoration of the necessary skills. This retrospective study seeks to evaluate the factors associated with improvement in community functioning after a period of outpatient rehabilitation. 223 individuals enrolled into three broad rehabilitation groups-clinical, vocational and creative therapies/individual sessions-were included in this study.

Social cognitive interventions for people with schizophrenia: A systematic review.

Social cognition is the mental process which underpins social interactions. Increasingly, it has been recognized to be impaired in people with schizophrenia, resulting in functional problems. Correspondingly, the past ten years have seen huge developments in the study of interventions to ameliorate social cognitive deficits among people with schizophrenia.

The effects of cognitive remediation on functional outcomes among people with schizophrenia: a randomised controlled study.

Objective: Cognitive remediation is an intervention to overcome cognitive deficits through drills and use of strategies. Previous studies have reported positive effects for cognitive remediation on neurocognition, but researchers' allegiance effects are not always adequately controlled. Furthermore, its efficacy amongst the Asian population has not been established.

Profile of cognitive problems in schizophrenia and implications for vocational functioning.

Aim: This literature review attempts to profile specific areas of cognition that have shown unique and consistent evidence of dysfunction among people with schizophrenia. In addition, their impact on vocational functioning is illustrated, so as to highlight the importance of managing these cognitive difficulties in vocational rehabilitation.

Methods: Literature search was carried out on seven key cognitive domains identified by the National Institute of Mental Health in the USA.

Hybrid transitional-supported employment using social enterprise: a retrospective study.

Objective: This brief report examines the implementation of a hybrid transitional-supported employment program using a social enterprise model to improve work skills and work behavior of people with psychiatric disabilities.

Methods: The subjects of this study included 25 consumers enrolled in a social enterprise café training program between May 2006 and December 2007. Work behavior assessments and supported employment tenure were retrospectively analyzed.