Effects of cognitive remediation on neurocognitive functions and psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia inpatients

Objective: Many individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have significant neurocognitive deficits, especially in the areas of attention, memory, and executive function. These deficits may exacerbate patients' psychiatric symptoms. Cognitive remediation has shown efficacy in improving neurocognitive functioning and may lead to amelioration of psychiatric symptoms in persons with schizophrenia. Method: Forty-two schizophrenic inpatients were randomly assigned to either a cognitive remediation group (n=21) or a control group (n=21) and were assessed using a neuropsychological battery and symptom scales for depression, anxiety, and positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia at baseline and after two months of participation in a cognitive remediation program. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in neuropsychological functioning, depression and negative symptoms of schizophrenia after the intervention compared to the control group. Conclusion: Results of the study provide support for cognitive remediation as an efficacious intervention to improve neurocognitive functioning and decrease psychiatric symptoms of schizophrenia. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.