Clinical Trial: Matching Cognitive Remediation to Cognitive Deficits in Substance-Abusing Inmates

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Matching Cognitive Remediation to Cognitive Deficits in Substance-Abusing Inmates

Brief Summary: This is a 2 -year NIDA funded grant (Co-PIs: Joseph P. Newman, John Curtin, and Carl Lejuez) that examines whether recent progress in characterizing the cognitive deficits associated with psychopathic and externalizing offenders may be used to develop better therapeutic interventions to treat their substance abuse and other self-control problems. Inmates with externalizing or psychopathy will receive one of two computer-based interventions to remediate the core cognitive skills that have been linked to self-regulation deficits in the two groups. One intervention (ACC) targets the affective cognitive control deficits associated with externalizing offenders whereas the other intervention (ATC) targets the attention to context deficits associated with psychopathic offenders. The specific components of the project include: selection and randomization of inmates; pre- and post-treatment behavioral and brain-related (ERP and Startle) measures to evaluate the impact and specificity of the ACC and ATC treatments; and 6 sessions of behavioral (e.g. computerized) and verbal training in ACC or ATC.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Current Primary Outcome: Psychophysiological change from pre-treatment to post-treatment [ Time Frame: 6 weeks after pre-testing ]

We will measure electrophysiology (EEG), startle responses (EMG measured in microvolts), and behavioral responses on six tasks that measure such processes as affective regulation, distress tolerance, cognitive control, selective attention, and attending to context.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Frequency of Conduct Reports [ Time Frame: within 3 months of participation ]

Assess change in the frequency of institution conduct reports post-treatment. We will compare frequency of these reports pre-treatment and post-treatment.


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Dates:
Date Received: August 17, 2011
Date Started: May 2011
Date Completion:
Last Updated: May 29, 2015
Last Verified: November 2011