An open label investigation of the feasibility and effectiveness of Memory Boost: A novel brief group cognitive remediation intervention for adults with mixed mood and anxiety disorders

To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel group cognitive remediation (Memory Boost) designed to improve memory in an adult mixed mood and anxiety disorder population. A secondary aim was to explore the relationship between mood symptoms and performance on subjective and objective memory measures. Participants were adults (n = 99) being treated for a primary diagnosis of a mood disorder in an ambulatory mental health and addictions program who completed Memory Boost between 2014 and 2020. Assessments were completed pre- and post-intervention using self-report measures of mood, anxiety and stress, subjective memory difficulties, confidence in memory and use of memory strategies. Selected subtests of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test were administered as objective measures of memory. Over 76% of the sample was retained to post-group test completion. There were significant improvements on subjective measures of memory satisfaction, capability, use of strategies and frequency of mistakes; no significant changes in objective memory performance were observed. Significant improvements were noted in self-reported ratings of depression symptoms, with a significant positive correlation noted between changes in subjective memory and mood improvement. Results indicate that participation in Memory Boost was feasible and associated with improved subjective perception of memory and increased use of cognitive compensatory strategies in a mixed diagnosis adult mood and anxiety disorder sample. Improvement in self-reported mood was also noted and positively correlated with changes in subjective memory, suggesting that a brief cognitive remediation intervention may be a feasible and effective adjunct therapy to mood disorders treatment as usual.