Cognitive Rehabilitation for Veterans With MDD-related Cognitive Functioning Deficits

Launched by PORTLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER · Dec 7, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring a new way to help veterans who have experienced Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and are still facing difficulties with thinking, memory, and attention even after their depression has improved. The study will test a program called Motivationally Enhanced Compensatory Cognitive Training (ME-CCT-MDD) over eight weeks, comparing it to a supportive contact group that focuses on setting and achieving personal goals. The goal is to see if the cognitive training can help improve cognitive skills, mental health, and overall quality of life for these veterans.

To participate, veterans must be between 18 and 65 years old, have received treatment for MDD in the past year, and report ongoing problems with cognitive functioning. Participants will undergo an assessment to understand their cognitive abilities and symptoms, and then they will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups, attending weekly sessions for two hours each time. After eight weeks, they will complete another assessment to see how their symptoms have changed and share their experiences. This study is important because it aims to find effective ways to support veterans who continue to struggle with cognitive issues after treatment for depression.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Veterans 18 years of age or older
• • 2. Self-reported concerns about cognitive functioning deficits or clinical concerns about cognitive functioning deficits documented in EHR
• • 3. meets DSM-5 criteria for MDD and receiving treatment for this diagnosis at the Portland VA within the past year
• • 4. moderate or greater depressive symptoms as assessed by a PHQ-9 score ≥ 10
• • 5. current cognitive functioning deficits as determined by performance on at least two measures in one cognitive domain (i.e., memory, attention/processing speed, language, executive functioning) falling ≥1 SD below their age-appropriate norms in the absence of memory impairment.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. impaired capacity to understand study risks and benefits
• • 2. history of TBI as defined by American College of Rehabilitation Medicine and VA/DoD criteria
• • 3. meets DSM-5 criteria for a substance use disorder other than nicotine use disorder in the past 6 months
• • 4. meets DSM-5 criteria for dementia, psychotic disorder, or "with psychotic features" specifier
• • 5. active suicidal intent with significant clinical risk
• • 6. auditory or visual impairments that would prevent ability to participate in cognitive rehabilitation group or assessments. Eligibility will be established by electronic medical record review conducted by study staff and will be confirmed by the Veteran during the initial phone call.