title: A pilot study of a family cognitive adaptation training guide for individuals with schizophrenia.
abstract: There is a paucity of accessible, evidence-based tools for caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. This study examines changes in the self-assessed and caregiver-assessed outcomes of people with schizophrenia after exposure to a cognitive adaptation training (CAT) guide that addressed pragmatic, in-home approaches to offset the cognitive impacts of the illness.
  
  
  
  This study examined the 4-month, pre-post outcomes of a CAT guide, as compared with a popular, general manual, for families of individuals with schizophrenia. A total of 17 caregiver-supported individual dyads completed all measures, having been randomized to either a CAT-guide group or a support-manual group. Measures included medication adherence, adaptive functioning, quality of life, and caregiver burden. Semistructured interviews assessed use and utility questions.
  
  
  
  Caregiver-assessed improvements in community functioning with medium-high effect sizes were observed in both study conditions. Self-report ratings by supported individuals did not change from baseline to 4 months and no change was observed in medication adherence or quality of life for either condition. Caregiver-burden ratings significantly declined with a large effect size, again with no difference as a function of manual type.
  
  
  
  These findings suggest that there is some promise in providing families with evidence-based information in manual form. Further research informed by this study's findings should include assessments of whether and how environmental cognitive supports can be of specific benefit to families affected by schizophrenia. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Sean A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kerman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ernest
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas at San Antonio.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maples
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
authors.forename: Cicely
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kath
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
authors.forename: Yarissa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
authors.forename: Gursharan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Virdee
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas at San Antonio.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Velligan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D000072466:Cognitive Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult