The Ronnie Gardiner Method Effectiveness Study

The CERQ was originally developed in Dutch. This self-report questionnaire has 36 items that evaluate the frequency of the use of emotion regulation strategies. The items are divided proportionally among nine emotion regulation strategies based on theory and empirical research: blaming yourself, blaming others, accepting, rumination, relating, catastrophising, focusing on other positive things, focusing on planning and positively reinterpreting. The items are answered on a Likert five-point scale ranging from almost never (1) to almost always (5) (Kraaij & Garnefski, 2006; Garnefski & Kraaij, 2006; Garnefski & Kraaij, 2007; Nowlan et al., 2015). Variations in the total scores of the nine subscales of the CERQ will be examined.

The four subtests are: (1)Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift (Cognitive Flexibility), (2) Spatial Span, (3) Spatial Working Memory and (4) Stop-Signal Task (Inhibition).

For the subtest Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift (IED), total latency (which is the sum of the response times over all trials) and in addition the total number of errors adjusted (which is the number of incorrect stimulus choices) will be analyzed. Next outcome measure is the Spatial Span Forward Span Length (SSPFSL), which is the longest sequence that the participant can reproduce forward. The Spatial Working Memory Total Errors (SWMTE) is another outcome measure to analyze recall problems. This is a measure of the total number of selections from a box that certainly cannot contain a token. The final outcome measure of the CANTAB is the Stop Signal Task Stop Signal Reaction Time (SSTSSRT), which is the estimated time in which a participant can successfully inhibit their responses 50% of the time.

The COAST is a modified Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT) that was developed specifically for older adults by Pachana and colleagues (2004). In the COAST, only three, more easily distinguishable colours (red, yellow and green) and a larger font are used to minimise the risk of errors due to colour confusion or reduced visual acuity. In addition, the number of items in the COAST was reduced (to 50 items) to minimise fatigue. For this study, we are mainly interested in the last subtest. In this subtest, colour words are presented in a different ink colour (e.g. the word GREEN with a red ink colour) and the aim is for the participants to name the ink colour and inhibit the reading automaticity. The interference score, total completion time and total error score on the interference task of the COAST will be analyzed in this study.

Thus, both response/motor inhibition (using the CANTAB Stop-Signal Task) and cognitive inhibition (using the COAST) are studied.

This questionnaire includes 14 (positively worded) items that question mental well-being (Taggart & Stewart-Brown, 2015; Tennant et al., 2007). The questionnaire is suitable for individuals as young as 13 years old (Taggart & Stewart-Brown, 2015). Participants are required to answer the items on a five-point scale, ranging from never (1) to always (5), according to their psychological functioning over the past two weeks. The sensitivity to change of the WEMWBS has been well validated (Taggart & Stewart-Brown, 2015). This is important in intervention studies where pre- and post-scores are compared, which is also the aim in the current study. The research duo Taggart and Stewart-Brown (2015) compared different instruments of mental well-being and concluded that the WEMWBS is preferred (over the WHO-5) in intervention studies.

The total score will be analyzed for this study. The higher the total score, the higher the level of mental well-being (Tennant et al., 2007).

The BIS/BAS scale is a Dutch personality questionnaire that assesses fear-related avoidance behavior (BIS scale) and reward-related approach behavior (BAS scale) (Gray, 1970). The 24 items can be subdivided into four scales, three of which are related to the BAS scale (i.e. fun seeking, drive en reward responsiveness) and lastly the BIS scale (Franken et al., 2005).

The BIS and BAS total scores will be used to determine membership to a particular personality type.

In order to investigate the contribution of positive experiences to the effectiveness of RGM, the research team has developed a short questionnaire. This questionnaire includes three questions that directly and indirectly question the experiences in RGM. The three questions are: "To what extent do you find the RGM training enjoyable?", "To what extent would you recommend the RGM training to your fellow patients?" and "To what extent would you participate in the RGM training again?". Participants should answer the questions on a ten-point scale ranging from "not at all" (1) to "very much" (10). The higher the total score (outcome measure), the higher the positive experience of the RGM training.

The 19-item Effortful Control Scale (ECS; Evans & Rothbart, 2007; Dutch version, Hartman & Rothbart, 2001) is a scale of the Adult Temperament Questionnaire (ATQ) that questions the extent to which an individual can direct his or her attention (i.e. attention control), can activate a response (i.e. activation control) and the ability to inhibit inappropriate behavior (i.e. inhibitory control). The three subscales of the ECS reflect the aforementioned concepts.

The EC total score will be used to determine membership to a particular personality type.