Recommendations for Reporting Cognitive Training Trials (RCTT): A Delphi consensus study
The absence of standardized reporting criteria in cognitive training research has led to difficulties in classification, assessment of effectiveness, reproducibility, comparability, and quality evaluation across studies. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive, consensus-based checklist for evaluating, reporting, and conducting cognitive training studies. A Delphi method was employed to achieve consensus among experts. A panel of 22 experts participated in three rounds of surveys, providing feedback and reaching agreement on essential items for the checklist. The final checklist items were categorized into four primary domains: Participants, Cognitive Training Protocol/Program, Cognitive Training Procedure, and Study Procedure. The expert panel reached consensus on key items to be included in the checklist. These items include demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, cultural characteristics, participant eligibility criteria, sample size, recruitment process, previous experience with cognitive training, medication details, baseline cognitive function, and various parameters of cognitive training protocols and procedures. The developed checklist provides a structured and thorough approach to reporting cognitive training studies. It aligns with existing guidelines such as CONSORT and enhances the clarity, transparency, and replicability of research. Future research should aim to validate and refine the checklist across diverse cognitive training studies and populations, ensuring its generalizability and effectiveness.
Authors
- MORRIS BELL
- Sarah A. Raskin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4310-4278)
- Petra Jansen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0973-2158)
- Aida Bikic (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6393-4084)
- Vahid Nejati (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0419-5207)
- Azin Sarraj Khorrami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8126-2405)
- Guido P. H. Band (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0408-0039)
- Mojtaba Soltanlou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1959-1384)
- Torkel Klingberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3175-2171)
- Jalil Fathabadi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5667-857X)
- McKay Moore Sohlberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8554-3343)
- Philip David Zelazo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6017-2988)
- Helmut Hildebrandt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9659-1671)
- Lesley Ross
- Dawei Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6862-5627)
- Karlene Ball
- KERRYN PIKE
- Lyn Turkstra
- Stuart J. Johnstone
- Ian H. Robertson
- Antonio Vita
- Xin Xu
- Anthony Feinstein
- Mehdi Alizadeh Zarei
Institutions
- Monash University Malaysia (MY)
- Leiden University (NL)
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (DE)
- Sunnybrook Health Science Centre (CA)
- Iran University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- University of Southern Denmark (DK)
- University of Wollongong (AU)
- Trinity College Dublin (IE)
- University of Johannesburg (ZA)
- University of Minnesota System (US)
- Health Sciences Centre (CA)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Brescia University (US)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Yale University (US)
- Menzies School of Health Research (AU)
- Universidad de Londres (MX)
- University College London (GB)
- Shahid Beheshti University (IR)
- University of Regensburg (DE)
- University of Brescia (IT)
- Clemson University (US)
- University of North Texas at Dallas (US)
- McMaster University (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
- Published
- 2026-09-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2026.2729732
- Primary Topic
- Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00