Effect of Individual Cognitive Stimulation at Home in Adults With Psychotic Disorders

Epidemiological studies indicate that Portugal has one of the highest prevalence rates of mental disorders in Europe. In 2016, one in five Portuguese suffered from a psychiatric illness and the network of Integrated Continuous Care in mental health is small, which is a major constraint to rehabilitation and support responses for people with mental health problems. It is important to include psychologists and neuropsychologists in multidisciplinary teams, in actions related to mental health promotion and mental illness prevention programs, so that they can provide more comprehensive interventions for other effects of chronic mental health conditions, such as cognitive decline. There is evidence linking psychotic disorders to impairments in functioning in most cognitive domains, including memory, executive functions, and attention, and that cognitive ageing in some areas may be accelerated in individuals with psychotic disorders. Thus, it is important to focus interventions on cognitive functioning in patients with psychosis, even after acute psychotic symptoms have improved. Executive functions appear to be of particular importance in the context of mental health problems, as they appear to be particularly integral for psychosocial functioning and the completion of instrumental activities of daily living. There is evidence that CS interventions in individual format are associated with greater effectiveness. Many studies have supported the effectiveness and accessibility of home-based interventions in people with chronic mental illness. Yet, there are few published studies on continuous intervention in people with chronic mental illness and even more limited knowledge of how cognitive stimulation can help chronic mental health patients, including those with psychosis, to function. One Portuguese study about the effect of an individual CS program in a home setting on cognitive and mood functioning in adults with psychotic disorders was tested, showed encouraging results and presented in detail an intervention protocol. However, it also presents some important limitations (e.g., convenience sample, lack of follow-up evaluation). This study aims to overcome those limitations, through a randomised controlled trial, and, in addition to testing the effect of the CS program on global cognition, it also aims to assess its effect on emotional state, daily functioning, and quality of life.