Cognitive Skills Training for Homeless Youth

March 27, 2017 updated by: New York State Psychiatric Institute

Cognitive Skills Training to Improve Vocational Outcome in Homeless Youth

Many young people who are homeless have cognitive deficits which impede their ability to secure and maintain employment. This study looks to see if targeting cognitive deficits can improve cognition and vocational outcome.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The aim of this research is to conduct a controlled study of cognitive remediation, to provide feasibility data on adapting an established empirically-based cognitive intervention for homeless youth to help them attain vocational goals. The ultimate purpose is that youth will improve in cognitive functioning and have better functional outcomes including jobs to sustain independent living.

The results of this study will inform a larger trial on the efficacy of cognitive remediation in homeless youth to improve cognition and vocational outcomes. Hypotheses are that, compared to those in an active control group receiving computerized work-skills training, individuals who receive cognitive remediation will show greater cognitive benefits on proximal measures of neurocognition and evidence better vocational outcome as defined by greater number of hours worked. This study will address the service gap in the use of integrated psychosocial interventions for homeless populations as the first investigation of cognitive remediation in homeless youth.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

188

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York City, New York, United States, 10019
        • Covenant House New York

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 22 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • have a current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) Axis I diagnosis
  • residing at Covenant House New York Rights of Passage Program
  • psychiatrically stable for at least 21 days
  • English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • mental retardation (<70 Intelligence Quotient; IQ) on premorbid intelligence estimate)
  • risk for suicide or violence
  • unremitted substance dependence within the past 6 weeks

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Computer skills training
26 sessions conducted 2-3 times a week to train in computer skills related to the workforce.
Behavioral: Computer Skills Training
Participants utilize an interactive software program that delivers tutorials, lessons, and practice sessions to develop computer skills for office based employment. During the learning activities, the clinician offers coaching and assistance in setting up computerized training exercises as needed.
Experimental: Cognitive Remediation
26 sessions conducted 2-3 times a week of cognitive remediation
Behavioral: Cognitive Remediation
Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR) is an evidence based, manualized cognitive remediation program that targets cognitive deficits (eg memory, processing speed, executive functioning, working memory and attention) with the intent of improving daily functioning.NEAR is conducted in a small group setting, allowing for supportive social interaction while participants work at their own computer station on engaging computerized activities that are selected to address their unique profile of cognitive deficits. Then, as a group they discuss how their respective cognitive activities will help them achieve their vocational goals.
Other Names:
  • NEAR

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Global Cognition Score
Time Frame: Baseline, 13, 26 sessions
A Global Cognition Score will be derived from the average z scores in five domains of cognitive functioning: working memory, verbal memory, processing speed, executive functioning, and attention.
Baseline, 13, 26 sessions

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Vocational outcome
Time Frame: Baseline, 13, 26 sessions
The vocational outcome will be total number of hours worked. Hours worked per week (range of 0 to 40) will be summed from the time of session 1 of cognitive remediation/active control to the time of one month followup.
Baseline, 13, 26 sessions

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Intrinsic Motivation Inventory
Time Frame: Baseline, 13, 26 sessions
Self-reported motivation for cognitive treatment will be measured using the total score from the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory
Baseline, 13, 26 sessions

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Collaborators

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Alice A Medalia, PhD, Columbia University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 13, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 20, 2013

First Posted (Estimate)

March 21, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 28, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 27, 2017

Last Verified

March 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • #6586
  • 1R21MH092569-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Anxiety Disorders

Clinical Trials on Computer Skills Training

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Jamaica

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe