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Compensatory cognitive training for psychosis: effects in a randomized controlled trial
Elizabeth W Twamley1, Lea Vella, Cynthia Z Burton
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, 140 Arbor Drive (0851), San Diego, CA 92103, USA. etwamley@ucsd.edu
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|September 4, 2012
Summary
This study shows that compensatory cognitive training can improve attention, memory, and daily functioning in schizophrenia patients. The low-tech intervention also reduced negative symptoms and improved quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive impairments are a significant challenge in schizophrenia, impacting daily functioning.
- Existing treatments often fall short in addressing these cognitive deficits.
- There is an urgent need for effective interventions targeting cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a 12-week, group-based, manualized compensatory cognitive training (CCT) intervention.
- To assess the efficacy of CCT in improving cognitive functions and functional capacity in individuals with schizophrenia.
- To examine the impact of CCT on psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, and self-reported functioning.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 69 outpatients with primary psychotic disorders.
- Participants received either standard pharmacotherapy alone or CCT plus standard pharmacotherapy for 12 weeks.
- Neuropsychological performance and functional capacity were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in attention and verbal memory at follow-up.
- Functional capacity, as measured by the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment, significantly improved at follow-up.
- The CCT group showed differential improvements in negative symptom severity and subjective quality of life.
Conclusions:
- Compensatory cognitive training is a low-tech, brief intervention with the potential to enhance cognitive performance in individuals with psychosis.
- CCT may also lead to improvements in functional skills, negative symptoms, and self-rated quality of life.
- This intervention offers a promising adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia.
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