Cognitive Remediation Training in Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Satyadhar Dwivedi* &Prof. (Dr.) Padmakali Banerjee**Cognitive impairment is a core symptom in schizophrenia that has a significant impact on psychosocial function, but shows a weak response to pharmacological treatment. Consequently, a variety of non pharmacological interventions have tried to find out suitable out come in patients with schizophrenia. Objective: There is considerable interest in cognitive remediation for schizophrenia. Our study aimed to evaluate, in the patients with schizophrenia, the interest of a cognitive remediation program on cognitive performances of patients as well as in clinical and functional outcome. Method: Twenty patients with remitted schizophrenia were randomly assigned to 30 days, 70 to 90 minutes individual sessions of cognitive remediation (n=39) or a control condition (n=10). Remediation was performed using brain wave R module. Three procedures were chosen to train four three functions involved, attention/concentration, working memory, logic, and executive functions. Primary outcomes were remediation exercise metrics, neuropsychological composites (episodic memory, working memory, attention, executive functioning, and processing speed), clinical and community functioning measures. Results: Cognitive performances concerning Attention/vigilance, verbal working memory and verbal learning memory and reasoning/problem solving improved significantly. Conclusions: Cognitive remediation for people with schizophrenia was effective in improving performance, but the benefits of training did not generalize to functional outcome measures. Long term follow-up studies are needed to confirm the maintenance of such improvements.