Can a computerised training paradigm assist people with intellectual disabilities to learn cognitive mediation skills? A randomised experiment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Can a computerised training paradigm assist people with intellectual disabilities to learn cognitive mediation skills?

T2 - A randomised experiment

AU - Vereenooghe, Leen

AU - Reynolds, Shirley

AU - Gega, Lina

AU - Langdon, Peter E

N1 - Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2015/8

Y1 - 2015/8

N2 - AIMS: The aim was to examine whether specific skills required for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) could be taught using a computerised training paradigm with people who have intellectual disabilities (IDs). Training aimed to improve: a) ability to link pairs of situations and mediating beliefs to emotions, and b) ability to link pairs of situations and emotions to mediating beliefs.METHOD: Using a single-blind mixed experimental design, sixty-five participants with IDs were randomised to receive either computerised training or an attention-control condition. Cognitive mediation skills were assessed before and after training.RESULTS: Participants who received training were significantly better at selecting appropriate emotions within situation-beliefs pairs, controlling for baseline scores and IQ. Despite significant improvements in the ability of those who received training to correctly select intermediating beliefs for situation-feelings pairings, no between-group differences were observed at post-test.CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that computerised training led to a significant improvement in some aspects of cognitive mediation for people with IDs, but whether this has a positive effect upon outcome from therapy is yet to be established.

AB - AIMS: The aim was to examine whether specific skills required for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) could be taught using a computerised training paradigm with people who have intellectual disabilities (IDs). Training aimed to improve: a) ability to link pairs of situations and mediating beliefs to emotions, and b) ability to link pairs of situations and emotions to mediating beliefs.METHOD: Using a single-blind mixed experimental design, sixty-five participants with IDs were randomised to receive either computerised training or an attention-control condition. Cognitive mediation skills were assessed before and after training.RESULTS: Participants who received training were significantly better at selecting appropriate emotions within situation-beliefs pairs, controlling for baseline scores and IQ. Despite significant improvements in the ability of those who received training to correctly select intermediating beliefs for situation-feelings pairings, no between-group differences were observed at post-test.CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that computerised training led to a significant improvement in some aspects of cognitive mediation for people with IDs, but whether this has a positive effect upon outcome from therapy is yet to be established.

U2 - 10.1016/j.brat.2015.05.007

DO - 10.1016/j.brat.2015.05.007

M3 - Article

C2 - 26004217

SN - 0005-7967

VL - 71

SP - 10

EP - 19

JO - Behaviour research and therapy

JF - Behaviour research and therapy

ER -