A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Types of Memory Training Programs in People With a Diagnosis of Mental Illness.

The aim of the current study is to compare two memory strategies, a top-down (i.e., educational and interventional)protocol vs. a bottom-up (computerized)protocol, in a population of individuals diagnosed with mental illness. Performance on ecologically validated memory tasks will be measured before and after each intervention protocol. Improvements are expected following each protocol. However, there is no evidence available to support added benefits from one protocol over another. As such, the current study will endeavour to contrast the two intervention types (top-down vs. bottom-up) to determine which, if any, provides maximal benefit.

• Memory Intervention (Other): A comparison of two type of memory intervention protocols; a psychoeducational/intervention protocol versus a computerized memory protocol in a population of individuals with mental illness.

Primary outcomes

• Declarative Memory Measure - Hopkins Verbal Learning Test [Participants will be asked to complete this measure prior to the start of the intervention and again at the completion of the intervention (i.e., interval of 5 weeks between pre and post measurements).]: Individuals participating in either protocol (i.e., top-down or bottom-up) will complete the memory measure before the commencement of the treatment and again at the end of treatment.

Secondary outcomes

• Mood Measure - Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1993) [Participants will be asked to complete this measure prior to the start of the intervention and again at the completion of the intervention (i.e., interval of 5 weeks between pre and post measurements).]

Other outcomes

• Functional - Multifactorial Metamemory Questionnaire (Troyer & Rich, 2011) [Participants will be asked to complete this measure prior to the start of the intervention and again at the completion of the intervention (i.e., interval of 5 weeks between pre and post measurements).]

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to 65 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Memory impairment equivalent to 1.5 std. dev. below average for age
* Speak and read English fluently

Exclusion Criteria:

* Older than 65 years of age
* Significant visual impairment (e.g., cataracts, macular degeneration)
* Motor impairment (e.g., hemiplegia on dominant side)
* Diagnosis of Dementia
* Alcohol and/or substance abuse (in past 3 months)

• Bruno J Losier, Ph.D., Principal investigator, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton