Predicting treatment completion in Cogmed working memory training for youth with ADHD

Cogmed Working Memory Training (CWMT) is a computerized training program marketed as a tool to improve working memory and attention, which are often areas of weakness in children with ADHD. Most of the current research investigating CWMT has focused on whether it improves cognitive abilities and academic achievement, or decreases symptom severity; however, few studies have examined what factors unique to a child may predict program completion. Thus, psychologists who recommend CWMT have little research to pull from when assessing whether their client will be able to persist through the program long enough to realize potential benefits. This exploratory study represents the first direct investigation of possible individual factors that may predict CWMT program completion, including demographics, symptomology, baseline motivation, assigned CWMT coach, and scores on IQ and achievement indices.

The current study included 70 youth (7 - 15 years of age) diagnosed with ADHD who enrolled in the five-week training program, comprised of 25 total 50-minute training sessions over five weeks. The results of this study showed that children from families with a traditional two-biological parent structure were more likely to complete the CWMT program than those children from other family structures. In addition, children who reported to have less initial motivation to participate in training were more likely to complete a higher number of training sessions and persist through the entirety of the program. Lastly, parents who reported more severe symptoms of anxiety and inattention in their child predicted greater treatment persistence. Therefore, psychologists who recommend CWMT will do well to consider family structure, motivation, anxiety, and attention as potentially relevant factors in deciding to recommend the program to prospective children with ADHD.