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The effects of verbalisation on cognitive performance in schizophrenia: a pilot study using tasks from the Delis
Kirsty E Harvey1, Cherrie A Galletly, Colin Field
1School of Psychology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
|March 4, 2009
Summary
Verbalizing during cognitive tasks selectively benefits schizophrenia patients with complex executive function challenges but hinders simpler tasks. Tailoring cognitive remediation strategies to task demands is crucial for improving outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive impairment significantly impacts schizophrenia patients' functional outcomes.
- Cognitive remediation, particularly verbalization during tasks, shows promise for improving performance on specific cognitive tests.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of concurrent verbalization on executive function task performance in individuals with schizophrenia.
- To assess whether verbalization improves performance on tasks from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS).
Main Methods:
- A within-subjects design was employed with 22 schizophrenia participants.
- Performance was compared on D-KEFS Tower Test and Trail Making Test under conditions of concurrent verbalization versus silence.
Main Results:
- Verbalization yielded selective benefits for a neuropsychological task involving multiple executive functions (number-letter switching).
- Performance on tasks requiring simpler cognitive functions (visual scanning, motor speed) was negatively affected by verbalization.
Conclusions:
- The impact of verbalization on cognitive task performance in schizophrenia is task-dependent.
- Benefits are observed in executive function tasks, while performance declines in single-component cognitive tasks.
- Cognitive remediation strategies involving verbalization should consider the specific task demands and cognitive load.
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