COMPENSATORY COGNITIVE TRAINING – WORKING AROUND THE COGNITIVE DEFICITS

Background : Cognitive impairment is a core symptom of schizophrenia and it is observed even in the prodromal phase. Cognitive impairment in people with psychosis is known to be associated with poor clinical and functional outcomes and is also observed to worsen gradually if intervention is not provided. There are computerized and non-computerized cognitive intervention programs developed in the West. There are very few culturally adapted cost-effective cognitive interventions in the LAMI countries. Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT) is a strategic cognitive remediation program developed by Dr. Elizabeth Twamley in the United States. It was developed to be “brief, practical, low-tech, engaging to clients, and portable enough to be delivered in the community” (Twamley et al., 2012). The team at SCARF have culturally adapted CCT to suit an urban English-speaking population and published the same (Gopal S et al, 2022). Through this workshop, we would disseminate our knowledge and experience in delivering CCT for persons with psychosis. Through this workshop, help the participants learn about cognitive deficits in psychosis and its impact on functioning using recent scientific evidence and to train participants in using Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT), an intervention module culturally adapted for the Indian population.

DEMENTIA DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT – A REFRESHER AND PRACTICE PEARLS FOR CLINICIANS

The aim of the workshop is to increase participants' confidence and comfort in diagnosing and managing dementia. We provide a framework to approach a case of dementia - for diagnosis and management, including behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia. We will work through a series of cases, using the framework - ranging from the usual presentations of dementia to atypical ones. We focus on the cognitive, functional, and BPSD assessment tools to use and on the investigations. We will also discuss practical psychosocial interventions and rational prescribing for dementia.

Sridhar Vaitheswaran, India

Dr. Sridhar Vaitheswaran is a clinician interested in applied research in dementia and geriatric mental health in low- and middle-income countries. He run a clinic and an in-patient facility for older persons with mental illness, including dementia, at SCARF Hospital in Chennai.He serves as the Assistant Director as well as a Consultant Psychiatrist in the Dementia Care in SCARF (DEMCARES).