Return to APA Collection Inventory Page
Text of document:
RESOLUTIONS:
3.1 Risks can be reduced by the use of computer-assisted and other cognitive rehabilitation procedures in the context of an organized treatment program. In most cases, the best treatment program will be identified, implemented, and monitored by an interdisciplinary team of rehabilitation professionals.
3.2 Clinical neuropsychologists can make a unique contribution to cognitive rehabilitation efforts because, by virtue of their training, they are sensitive not only to the patient s cognitive problems, but also to issues related to personality, emotional disorders, family problems, and vocational concerns. It is generally acknowledged that this complex of issues can interact to have an adverse effect on an individual s functioning after brain injury.
3.2.1 In all treatment endeavors by clinical neuropsychologists, including cognitive rehabilitation, risks to the consumer are minimized by rigorous adherence to ethical standards as set forth in APA s Ethical Principles for Psychologists (1981).
3.2.2 Risks are minimized by setting standards for training and experience of all providers of cognitive rehabilitation. Issues related to such standards are discussed in Issue 4.
3.3 Risks are reduced by setting and meeting at least minimal standards for publication and dissemination of cognitive rehabilitation software. Proposed standards follow.
STANDARDS FOR PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION
3.3.1 Software publishers should support research on efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation computer programs and the academically free dissemination of reports, abstracts, and references.
3.3.2 When the software is sold, the purchasers should be encouraged to notify the publisher of reports of any additional efficacy studies by themselves or others.
3.3.3 The publisher should maintain and circulate a listing of efficacy studies, without regard to their outcome, to purchasers.
3.3.4 In consultation with the psychologist-author, the publisher should encourage research by providing cognitive rehabilitation software at cost to qualified investigators.
3.3.5 A review of existing research on the efficacy of the specific software package should be provided with the software. Studies should be reviewed in two categories. (a) single case, case series, and repeated measures designs; (b) designs including a control group and parametric statistics.
3.3.6 Publishers must avoid actual or implied claims about treatment efficacy that cannot be substantiated. If no studies exist to support the efficacy of the software, this should be clearly stated.
3.3.7 Psychologist-authors should require review and approval of all advertising of products using their name and/or materials, and should provide corrections to misleading or inaccurate statements.
3.3.8 Publishers should discourage the perception of cognitive rehabilitation software as a self-standing treatment and should encourage its perception as a tool to be used in treatment.
3.3.9 Publishers may consider a disclaimer such as the following: No claims for the specific, independent therapeutic value of this product are made. It should be used only with appropriate professional consultation.
3.3.10 Publishers should provide sufficient documentation to permit the purchaser to evaluate and use the software in an appropriate manner.
3.3.11 A statement of the rationale, the theoretical basis, and available normative data for the program should be provided.
3.3.12 A statement of the learning principles to be incorporated with the software should be provided, including suggested methods for (a) queuing/fading of prompts for correct responding, (b) reinforcement of correct responding, (c) shaping of incorrect to correct responses, (d) performance determined task difficulty levels, (2) the range of compensatory skills or skill areas that the software promotes.
3.3.13 A description of persons for whom the software was designed should be provided, including: (a) age range of appropriate patients, (b) skill deficits that may be considered for treatment (e.g., attention, memory, visual and spatial deficits), (c) visual and hearing ability required, (d) manual and bimanual dexterity required, (e) computer and keyboard familiarity required, (f) educational attainment required (e.g., reading ability, mathematics ability).
3.3.14 Information concerning technical aspects of the program
should be provided, including a description of (a) input modes, (e.g.,
joystick, mouse, adapted keyboard, light pen, touch screen, voice activation);
and (b) available output, (e.g., data analyses permitted, print-out options,
comparisons across sessions).
66
(End of text)
| ||||
