What Do Clients Think of Cognitive Remediation Therapy?: A Consumer-Led Investigation of Satisfaction and Side Effects

Consumers' views of treatments are not routinely measured but they are crucial to the implementation of Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT). However, the measurement of consumer opinion is fraught with difficulties because of the halo effect produced when there is a lack of perceived independence of satisfaction assessment and treatment support. This study aimed to overcome this problem by using a participatory research model that included consumers as researchers. A questionnaire was constructed by consumers and then used in interviews conducted by consumers with people who had experienced CRT (N = 21). These data were then compared with data from a randomized, controlled trial (N = 85). The results indicated that clients were satisfied with CRT, but also showed that CRT has unintended side effects that clinicians and researchers need to address. In particular, if there are no perceived effects of CRT during therapy, then this has a detrimental effect on self-esteem. The study showed that there are research and clinical benefits in finding out from consumers their views on treatments, but in addition it demonstrated that participatory research methods can be used even with a group of consumers who are considerably psychiatrically disabled.