A TRAINING PROCEDURE FOR REMEDIATING WCST DEFICITS IN CHRONIC PSYCHOTIC-PATIENTS - AN ADAPTATION OF ERRORLESS LEARNING-PRINCIPLES

Although a number of studies have demonstrated that psychiatric patien ts' performance deficits on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) can be modified through intervention, relatively little evidence exists t o support the long-term durability of training effects. The present st udy tested the effectiveness and durability of a training procedure ba sed on errorless learning principles, and in addition sought to determ ine the effect of previously committed errors on training and posttrai ning performance. Twenty-three chronic psychotic inpatients were rando mly assigned to an Initial Error (n = 11) or No Initial Error (n = 12) group. The Initial Error group received two standard administrations of the WCST prior to training (where they were expected to commit many errors); the No Initial Error group had no prior exposure to the WCST . All subjects received training on the WCST which was followed by imm ediate, 1-, 2-, and 4-week post-tests. Results supported the effective ness of training and the durability of effects, but previous error his tory showed no clear relationship to post-training performance. Copyri ght (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.