Enhancement of executive functioning skills: an additional tier in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is viewed by most as having a neuropsychological component, with deficits primarily occurring in the areas of attention/concentration, memory, and executive functioning. These deficits often contribute to difficulties in everyday living and social functioning. The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation methods, typically utilized by brain-injured patients, to improve the executive functioning skills of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. While this pilot study is limited in terms of sample size, results suggest that the addition of cognitive rehabilitation to the comprehensive treatment of schizophrenia could be beneficial in enhancing daily living skills.