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Morris Bell, PhD, ABPP

Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Scientist in Psychiatry; VA RR&D Senior Research Career Scientist

Contact Information

Morris Bell, PhD, ABPP

Mailing Address

  • Psychiatry

    VACHS, 950 Campbell Avenue

    West Haven, CT 06516

    United States

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Research Summary

"Exploring Ways to Restore Cognitive and Work Capacity" is our mission. Our goal is to restore functional capacity to people with disabling psychiatric conditions. We are particularly interested in vocational rehabilitation and neurocognitive rehabilitation and have tested interventions that can augment current best practices. Our work suggests that providing patients with on-going, specific feedback about their cognitive and work performance can improve vocational outcomes. Based on models of neuroplasticity, we have tested the use of computer-based cognitive exercises of attention, memory, language and executive functioning. We have found that such training can result in normal levels of task performance, improved neuropsychological test performance, and better functioning on the job. We have found that cognitive training combined with work therapy leads to greater productivity and when combined with supported employment leads to higher rates of competitive employment, especially for those with the poorest initial community functioning.

Evidence linking cognitive training to neuroplastic changes comes from pre-post fMRI studies that show improved cognitive efficiency on working memory tasks. Other methods being explored include social information processing groups, a CBT approach to negative cognitions regarding return to work, using D'serine as a cognitive enhancer to boost new learning in conjunction with cognitive training, and using motivation enhancing strategies. While most of our work has been with schizophrenia, we are now applying cognitive remediation approaches to patients in initial stages of substance abuse treatment and early stage Alzheimer's disease. We have developed new cognitive training software, simulated job interview training, and psychophysiological approaches.

We have now expanded our work to children in the classroom using an enrichment program (C8Sciences) that combines cognitive training games with physical activities that make similar cognitive demands. We are developing a comprehensive assessment of "embodied cognition" using motion capture technology to measure improvements in children performing tasks that require attention, memory and self-control.

Specialized Terms: Cognitive Remediation; Neuropsychology; Neuropsychology of Schizophrenia; Psychiatric Rehabilitation; Schizophrenia; Supported Employment

Extensive Research Description

NIDA Cognitive Remediation and Work Therapy in the Early Phase of Substance Abuse Treatment. Pilot study to determine whether these interventions improve substance abuse outcomes.


NIMH SBIR “Vocational Rehabilitation Training Simulation for the Psychiatrically Disabled, Phase 1.- Development of computer-based job interview role-play training.


VA Rehabilitation R&D “Cognitive Training to Enhance Work Program

  • Outcomes” - Comparing Positscience to Nintendo Brain Age cognitive training with VA work programs.

    • NIMH "Cognitive Training and Enhanced Supported Employment.” - RCT of Positscience cognitive training with CMHC based Supported Employment

    VA Rehabilitation R&D (Lysaker PI, Bell Co-PI). Effects of CBT and Cognitive Remediation on Work in Schizophrenia.” - RCT of CBT and Positscience cognitive training with VA work therapy.

    Coauthors

    Research Interests

    Neuropsychology; Psychiatry; Schizophrenia; Veterans

    Selected Publications

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