A randomised double-blind trial of cognitive training for the prevention of psychopathology in at-risk youth.
Alcohol use
Anxiety
Cognitive training
Depression
Prevention
Youth
Journal
Behaviour research and therapy
ISSN: 1873-622X
Titre abrégé: Behav Res Ther
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0372477
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
23 Jun 2020
23 Jun 2020
Historique:
received:
07
10
2019
revised:
21
05
2020
accepted:
04
06
2020
pubmed:
7
7
2020
medline:
7
7
2020
entrez:
7
7
2020
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of online cognitive training as a means of reducing psychopathology in at-risk youth. In a double-blind randomised controlled trial, 228 youths (mean age = 18.6, 74.6% female) were randomly allocated to either an intervention group (n = 114; online cognitive training focused on executive functioning) and a control group (n = 114; online cognitive training focused on other cognitive abilities). Participants were assessed online at baseline, post-training, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome of the study was overall psychopathology as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were executive functioning ability (assessed using the n-back, trail-making and Stroop tasks), day-to-day functioning and risky drinking. Mixed model intention-to-treat analyses indicated that psychopathology increased and day-to-day functioning decreased, regardless of intervention group. Those in the intervention group improved more than those in the control group in terms of the n-back task, but this was not statistically significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. There were no statistically significant effects on risky drinking, or the trail-making and Stroop tasks. This study failed to provide evidence for the efficacy of cognitive training as a stand-alone intervention for psychopathology.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of online cognitive training as a means of reducing psychopathology in at-risk youth.
METHODS
METHODS
In a double-blind randomised controlled trial, 228 youths (mean age = 18.6, 74.6% female) were randomly allocated to either an intervention group (n = 114; online cognitive training focused on executive functioning) and a control group (n = 114; online cognitive training focused on other cognitive abilities). Participants were assessed online at baseline, post-training, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome of the study was overall psychopathology as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were executive functioning ability (assessed using the n-back, trail-making and Stroop tasks), day-to-day functioning and risky drinking.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Mixed model intention-to-treat analyses indicated that psychopathology increased and day-to-day functioning decreased, regardless of intervention group. Those in the intervention group improved more than those in the control group in terms of the n-back task, but this was not statistically significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. There were no statistically significant effects on risky drinking, or the trail-making and Stroop tasks.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
This study failed to provide evidence for the efficacy of cognitive training as a stand-alone intervention for psychopathology.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32629291
pii: S0005-7967(20)30125-X
doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103672
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
103672Informations de copyright
Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest None.