Efficacy of Kinect-based Versus Tablet-based Cognitive Training Through Simulations of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living: a Pilot Study With Chronic Psychiatric Patients
Phase: NA
Conditions: Psychiatric Disorder
Sponsor: Universidade da Madeira

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Official title: Efficacy of kinect-based versus tablet-based cognitive training through 
simulations of instrumental activities of daily living: a pilot study with psychiatric patients 
Unique protocol ID: 1/2021 
Document date: 20 October 2021 

Study protocol 
Background 
Cognitive deficits are a nuclear feature of several psychiatric disorders, leading to decreased 
functional abilities and quality of life. Besides facilitating the inclusion of more ecologically valid 
stimuli and training tasks, technology-based cognitive training methods allow more dynamic 
interactions with the cognitive training content, which can enhance patients' motivation and 
engagement in the therapeutic process. The modality of interaction with the cognitive training 
content may influence patients' response to cognitive training interventions. For instance, 
cognitive training through the tablet essentially requires hand movements (e.g., interaction with 
the training tasks by touching the correct stimuli). In contrast, cognitive training through the 
Kinect – a more natural user interface – involves performing broad range movements (e.g., 
interaction with the training tasks by making specific "body" movements to select the correct 
stimuli). Literature shows that natural user interfaces provide a training experience closer to 
reality. As a result, we hypothesize that cognitive training using natural user interfaces can lead 
to more significant gains in cognitive and non-cognitive domains and, possibly, enhance transfer 
for daily life outcomes. 
Objectives 
This study aims to analyze which cognitive training experimental condition – Tablet versus Kinect 
– results in greater cognitive, mood, quality of life, and functional gains in a sample of chronic 
psychiatric patients. 
Methods 
Trial Design 
Single-blind pilot randomized controlled trial. 
Inclusion criteria 
− 
Chronic Psychiatric diagnosis; 
− 
Maximum age: 75 years old; 
− 
Being able to read and write; 
− 
Relatively preserved language abilities (expressive and receptive language); 
− 
Preserved visual and auditory acuity; 
− 
Having no motor limitations; 
− 
Having no medical history of neurological conditions (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, 
multiple sclerosis, etc.) 
Exclusion criteria 
− 
Experiencing an acute psychiatric episode. 
Procedure 
Eligible patients will be randomly allocated to both training conditions – kinect and tablet-based 
cognitive training. Then, a certified psychologist will collect patients’ sociodemographic and 
clinical data and perform a baseline neuropsychological assessment. The 14-session cognitive 
training program inspired by instrumental activities of daily living will be applied to all patients. 
Sessions will be around 30 minutes and will be administered 2 times per week. The computerized 
cognitive training application used will be Musiquence, which was initially developed for cognitive 
stimulation purposes within the context of dementia syndromes. Both groups will perform the 

same cognitive training program; the only thing that will differ will be the setup (kinect versus 
tablet). 
Neuropsychological assessment 
A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment will be delivered to all patients in three 
different moments, namely: 
− 
Pre-intervention: baseline assessment, immediately before the beginning of the 
intervention; 
− 
Post-intervention: immediately after the intervention;  
− 
Follow-up: 3-months after the intervention. 
The neuropsychological assessment protocol encompasses a set o primary and secondary 
outcome measures that will be briefly described below: 
Primary outcome measures 
− 
Global cognitive functioning: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (Freitas et al., 
2013); 
− 
Processing speed: Symbol Search and Digital Symbol Coding from Weschler Adult 
Intelligence Scale – Third Edition (WAIS-III; Weschler, 1997; 2008); 
− 
Attention: Toulouse-Piéron Cancellation Test (TP) (Toulouse & Piéron, 1986); 
− 
Verbal memory: Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) (Lemos et al., 2015); 
− 
Visual memory and visuospatial abilities: Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) (Rey, 1998); 
− 
Executive functions: Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) (Lima et al., 2008), Semantic and 
Phonemic Verbal Fluency Tests (Cavaco et al., 2013);  
Secondary outcome measures 
− 
Depressive symptoms: Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) (Beck et al., 1996); 
− 
Quality of life: World Health Organization Quality of Life – Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) 
(Quality of life) (Canavarro et al., 2006); 
− 
Functional abilities: Adults and Older Adults Functional Assessment Inventory (IAFAI) 
(Sousa et al., 2013).