Cognitive and psychological improvements following CogSMART in veterans with mental health diagnoses

• Published in: Applied neuropsychology. Adult Vol. 31; no. 5; pp. 892 - 900
• Main Authors: Dorociak, Katherine E., Bernstein, John P. K., Baumgartner, Sarah E., Hughes, Adriana M., Duff, Kevin, Lamberty, Gregory J., Yamada, Torricia H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 02.09.2024
• Subjects: Aged; Anxiety - diagnosis; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnosis; Cognitive Dysfunction - etiology; cognitive rehabilitation; Cognitive Remediation; Depression - diagnosis; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; mental health; Middle Aged; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Personal Satisfaction; Psychotherapy, Group; reliable change; Veterans; veterans; Cognition; reliable change; mental health; cognitive rehabilitation
• ISSN: 2327-9095; 2327-9109; 2327-9109
• DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2086056

The present study examined the efficacy of a CogSMART-based program in improving cognitive and emotional functioning in a clinic-based sample of Veterans presenting with cognitive concerns and history of mental health diagnoses. Forty Veterans (M age = 61.2 years, 85% male) completed a weekly CogSMART-based group program as well as a battery of neuropsychological and psychological measures at both pre- and post-group evaluations. Participants met DSM-5 criteria for at least one mental health diagnosis. Significant improvements on global cognition as well as measures of learning/memory and attention were observed from pre- to post-group (p < .05, cohen's d range = .48-1.01). As many as 33.3% of participants showed significant improvement, depending on the cognitive domain. Significant overall improvements were observed in depression symptoms and life satisfaction (p < .01, cohen's d = .67 and .59, respectively). Over one-third of the sample demonstrated a reliable improvement in depressive symptoms, 25% in anxiety symptoms, and 18% in life satisfaction. Among individuals with mental health diagnosis but without major neurocognitive disorders, CogSMART-based interventions may be an effective treatment for improving aspects of cognition, depression, and life satisfaction.