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ObjectiveThis pragmatic randomized control trial aimed to evaluate clinical efficacy of the Making Sense of Brain Tumour program delivered via videoconferencing (Tele‐MAST) for improving mental health and quality of life (QoL) relative to standard care in individuals with primary brain tumor (PBT).MethodAdults with PBT experiencing at least mild distress (Distress Thermometer ≥4) and caregivers were randomly allocated to the 10‐session Tele‐MAST program or standard care. Mental health and QoL were assessed pre‐intervention, post‐intervention (primary endpoint), and 6‐weeks and 6‐months follow‐up. The primary outcome was clinician‐rated depressive symptoms on the Montgomery‐Asberg Depression Rating Scale.Results82 participants with PBT (34% benign, 20% lower‐grade glioma, 46% high‐grade glioma) and 36 caregivers were recruited (2018–2021). Controlling for baseline functioning, Tele‐MAST participants with PBT had lower depressive symptoms at post‐intervention (95% CI: 10.2–14.6, vs. 15.2–19.6, p = 0.002) and 6‐weeks post‐intervention (95% CI: 11.5–15.8 vs. 15.6–19.9, p = 0.010) than standard care, and were almost 4 times more likely to experience clinically reduced depression (OR, 3.89; 95% CI: 1.5–9.9). Tele‐MAST participants with PBT also reported significantly better global QoL, emotional QoL and lower anxiety at post‐intervention and 6‐weeks post‐intervention than standard care. There were no significant intervention effects for caregivers. At 6‐months follow‐up participants with PBT who received Tele‐MAST reported significantly better mental health and QoL relative to pre‐intervention.ConclusionsTele‐MAST was found to be more effective for reducing depressive symptoms at post‐intervention than standard care for people with PBT but not caregivers. Tailored and extended psychological support may be beneficial for people with PBT.

Objective Empirical evidence has suggested that schizophrenia is associated with dysfunctions in the reward system and working memory. However, little is known about individuals at risk for schizophrenia. In particular, it is not known if those with schizotypal personality features will show similar deficits in these two domains. This study examined whether individuals with schizotypal personality disorder features will subjectively devalue potential rewards in the future and show changes in their decision‐making behaviour, compared with healthy controls, and whether this devaluation is inversely associated with working memory performance. Method A total of 44 participants with schizotypal personality features and 22 healthy control participants without schizotypal personality features completed the Monetary‐Choice Questionnaire, the Cambridge Gambling Task, and number and letter span tasks, which assessed delay‐discounting rate, decision‐making behaviour, and working memory, respectively. Results The results showed that participants with schizotypal personality features, especially those with negative features, valued delayed rewards in the future to a lesser extent than healthy control participants. However, there was no significant group difference in decision‐making on the Cambridge Gambling Task. Moreover, the delay‐discounting rate of individuals with schizotypal personality features correlated significantly with working memory performance. Conclusion The findings suggest that people with schizotypal personality features may be impaired in future reward perception and that this impairment is related to their working memory ability, although their capacity to make decisions is not affected.

Background and Objectives Age-based stereotype threat (ABST) poses serious risks for the cognitive screening of older adults. This review aimed to identify and critically appraise the methodology and existing evidence of studies investigating the use of threat-removal (TR) strategies to overcome the effects of ABST on the cognitive performance of older adults. The types of strategies, their effectiveness in optimising cognitive performance, and factors influencing their effectiveness were examined. Research Design and Methods A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from 1st January 1995 to 6th November 2019. Two authors independently assessed article eligibility and appraised methodological quality of eligible articles using an adaptation of the STROBE guidelines. Narrative synthesis was used to summarise results. Results Thirty articles, reporting on 36 studies, were eligible and included. Overall, evidence for the effectiveness of TR was mixed and varied according to the explicitness of strategies and comparison conditions used. Studies examining blatant TR strategies, and those using a combination of blatant and subtle TR strategies, provided limited support for their effectiveness in overcoming ABST. However, studies evaluating subtle TR strategies provided preliminary support for their effectiveness in overcoming ABST. Discussion and Implications Existing studies provide limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of TR strategies in overcoming ABST due to methodological limitations. Recommendations are made for the design of future studies to differentiate the benefits of TR strategies from the detrimental effects of ABST, thus potentially informing their use in clinical practice.