NEAR

Neuropsychological and Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR) is a holistic recovery-oriented cognitive remediation program that has been widely disseminated around the world.

The approach emphasizes the importance of addressing motivation to enhance learning, and carefully links cognitive training goals to overall recovery goals. NEAR includes computer based cognitive exercises and strategy coaching, with verbal “Bridging Groups” that link the cognitive skills practice to everyday functioning.

NEAR has been used with adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations, psychotic and affective disorders, dementias, and ADHD. It has been used in inpatient, outpatient, forensic, supportive housing and clinic settings. Clients attend groups twice a week for 4-5 months.

NEAR is available in English, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese

Therapist Guide: Cognitive Remediation for Psychological Disorders
Therapist Guide

Research on NEAR

  1. Medalia, A. & Freilich, B. (2008). The Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Cognitive Remediation (NEAR) Model: Practice Principles and Outcome Studies. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 11(2), 123-143.
  2. Ikezawa, S., Mogami, T., Hayami, Y., Sato, I., Kato, T….& Nakagome, K. (2012). The pilot study of a Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Cognitive Remediation for patients with schizophrenia in Japan. Psychiatry Research, 195(3), 107-110.
  3. Naismith, S.L., Redoblado-Hodge, M.A., Lewis, S.J., Scott, E.M., & Hickie, I.B. (2010). Cognitive training in affective disorders improves memory: a preliminary study using the NEAR approach. Journal of Affective Disorders, 121(3), 258-262.
    1. “Participants in the treatment condition demonstrated greater improvements on tests of memory encoding and memory retention than the waitlist control group. There were no observable benefits in terms of psychomotor speed or executive functions or in self-reported levels of disability. Affective symptoms also remained stable.”
    2. “Cognitive training in affective disorders improves memory performance. It may be an effective non-pharmacological treatment option for improving cognitive functions, which in turn, may improve psychosocial functioning and reduce disability.”
  4. Medalia, A., Revheim, N., & Casey, M. (2001). The remediation of problem-solving skills in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 27(2), 259-267.
    1. “Patients who received ten sessions of problem-solving remediation showed significantly more improvement on the outcome measure that assessed problem-solving skills required for independent living.”
  5. Medalia, A., Revheim, N., & Casey, M. (2001). The remediation of problem-solving skills in schizophrenia: evidence of a persistent effect. Schizophrenia Research, 57(2-3), 165-171.
    1. “…the results of the follow-up assessment, which found that the gains made by the problem-solving group persisted for 4 weeks after cessation of problem-solving remediation ended.”
  6. Medalia, A., Herlands, T., & Baginsky, C. (2003). Rehab rounds: Cognitive remediation in the supportive housing setting. Psychiatric Services, 54(9), 1219-1220.