Manouchehr Gharaeipour1, B J Scott. 1. Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Department of Psychology, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Niayesh, Satar Khan, Tehran, Iran. m-gharaeipour@farabi.tums.ac.ir
Abstract
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.
RCT Entities:
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.