Cognitive remediation in residential substance use treatment: A randomized stepped-wedge trial.

Executive dysfunction is common in individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) and presents a barrier to treatment engagement. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive remediation (CR) for improving executive functioning and treatment retention in patients with SUD, using a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial. The sample included 527 adults enrolled across ten residential SUD treatment providers in NSW, Australia.

Cognitive training and remediation interventions for substance use disorders: a Delphi consensus study.

Aims: Substance use disorders (SUD) are associated with cognitive deficits that are not always addressed in current treatments, and this hampers recovery. Cognitive training and remediation interventions are well suited to fill the gap for managing cognitive deficits in SUD. We aimed to reach consensus on recommendations for developing and applying these interventions.

Psychometric Properties of a New Decision-Making Capacity Assessment Tool for People with Substance Use Disorder: The CAT-CAT.

Individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) often present with cognitive impairments, which may impede their ability to make decisions for themselves, including treatment-related decisions. It is therefore important to assess whether individuals with SUD have adequate decision-making capacity. Indeed, there have not been any capacity assessment tools tailored for use with SUD populations that demonstrate adequate psychometric properties or that have the strong ethical foundation that is required of capacity assessment tools.

Neurocognition of females with substance use disorder and comorbid personality disorder: Divergence in subjective and objective cognition.

At least one in four patients with substance use disorder (SUD) meet criteria for personality disorder and overlapping neurocognitive deficits may reflect shared neurobiological mechanisms. We studied neurocognition in females attending residential SUD treatment by comparing SUD with ( = 20) or without ( = 30) comorbid personality disorder. Neuropsychological testing included working memory, inhibition, shifting, verbal fluency, design fluency, psychomotor speed, immediate and delayed verbal memory, processing speed, premorbid functioning, cognitive screening, and self-reported executive function.

Cognitive Remediation as an Adjunct Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Substance use disorders are associated with diverse neuropsychological impairments, with deficits in memory and executive functioning commonly observed. Cognitive remediation has been shown to be effective in other populations with cognitive impairments in these domains, including those with psychiatric disorders and acquired brain injuries, and it has been hypothesised to be similarly effective for those in treatment for substance use disorders. We aimed to systematically review the evidence for cognitive remediation interventions administered as an adjunct treatment to substance use rehabilitation.

The Alcohol and Drug Cognitive Enhancement (ACE) Screening Tool: A simple and brief questionnaire to screen for cognitive impairment in substance use disorder treatment services.

The objective of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability; construct and criterion validity; and test operating characteristics of a newly developed cognitive impairment risk factor screening instrument, the Alcohol and Drug Cognitive Enhancement (ACE) Screening Tool. Participants in the validation study were 129 adults with substance use disorder (SUD) enrolled in residential SUD treatment services and 209 normal controls. Test and retest data were available for 36 participants with SUD and 40 normal control individuals on the ACE Screening Tool.

Mental contrasting with implementation intentions increases study time for university students.

Background: Goal setting is a core aspect of human behaviour that drives action. The intention to achieve one's goals, however, does not necessarily translate into desired outcomes. Although the mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) strategy has demonstrated strong efficacy, limited investigations have been conducted in a university academic goal-setting context.

A stepped wedge cluster randomised trial of a cognitive remediation intervention in alcohol and other drug (AOD) residential treatment services.

Background: Executive functioning impairment is common in substance use disorder and is a major risk factor for poor treatment outcomes, including treatment drop-out and relapse. Cognitive remediation interventions seek to improve executive functioning and offer a promising approach to increase the efficacy of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatments and improve long-term therapeutic outcomes. This protocol describes a study funded by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation that assesses the effectiveness of delivering a six-week group-based intervention of cognitive remediation in an ecologically valid sample of people attending residential AOD treatment services.

Cognitive remediation improves executive functions, self-regulation and quality of life in residents of a substance use disorder therapeutic community.

Background: Executive dysfunction is common in substance use disorder (SUD) populations and hinders treatment. We previously found that 50% of residents in SUD therapeutic communities had been hospitalized for head injuries; this was a significant determinant of cognitive impairment. The current study aimed to establish whether cognitive remediation improves executive functions (EFs) and self-regulation in an ecologically valid sample of female residents attending SUD therapeutic community treatment, including those with past head injuries and psychiatric comorbidities.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is Sensitive to Head Injury and Cognitive Impairment in a Residential Alcohol and Other Drug Therapeutic Community.

Introduction: Retaining clients in residential alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment is difficult and cognitive impairment has been identified as a significant predictor of treatment dropout. The application of extensive screening for cognitive impairment is cost-prohibitive for most AOD treatment services. The current study aimed to explore cognitive functioning and impairment-associated factors in a typical sample of residential AOD clients using a free brief screening tool that could be utilised by front-line AOD services.