Headdset

Cognitive problems often impede the daily functioning of people with severe psychiatric disorders who require long-term intensive psychiatric care. In the HEADDSET pilot study, we are investigating whether the combination of two interventions can lead to improvement in cognitive and daily functioning in this group.  

Cognitive Remediation Training (CRT) is a psychological intervention aimed at improving cognitive functions (such as attention, memory and planning) with the ultimate goal to improve daily functioning. By doing exercises on the computer, people gain insight into their cognitive strengths, but they also learn which cognitive skills can still be improved. In addition, they learn strategies that they can apply in everyday life so that they can cope better with the cognitive problems. In the HEADDSET study, we use non-invasive brain stimulation in addition to this training. Through the stimulation we want to make the areas in the brain that are needed to learn new skills more receptive to learning. By doing so, we hope that people learn the skills they are offered during computer training (CRT) faster and that the learned effect lasts longer. In our study, we look at whether CRT is effective for people with severe psychiatric disorders and whether the combination of CRT and mild brain stimulation is indeed more effective than CRT alone, and thus leads to greater improvement in cognitive and daily functioning.  

Project Partners:  

• Lentis 
• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen  
• RGOc 

Involved GRIP researchers:  

• Anika Poppe, MSc.
• Dr. Leonie Bais 
• Dr. Lisette van der Meer 

Others involved:  

• Prof. dr. G.H.M. Pijnenborg (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen & GGz Drenthe)  
• Dr. Branislava Curcic-Blake (Cognitive Neuroscience Center, UMCG Groningen) 
• Dr. Daniëlle van Duin (Trimbos Instituut & Kenniscentrum Phrenos)