Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine the effect of contingent monetary reinforcement and enhanced instructions on Span of Apprehension (SPAN) performance in a group of young people with early onset psychosis. Twenty-five participants (mean age 16.7) received a 3- and 12-letter version of the SPAN task six times: baseline, three x intervention, post-test, and 10-day follow-up. No significant effects of time were found in the 3-letter condition, indicating a ceiling effect for accuracy. In the 12-letter condition detection rates improved significantly reaching a maximum at the third intervention (p < 0.001). Performance showed a temporary decline at post-test, but performance returned to the maximum level at the 10-day follow-up. The study suggests that SPAN performance can be improved in young people with early onset psychosis using relatively simple interventions and that performance gains are relatively durable.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 55-60 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Scandinavian journal of psychology |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2004 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
- Cognitive Therapy
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Mental Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Severity of Illness Index