Effectiveness of Cognitive Training in an Intensive Outpatient First Episode Psychosis Program

Despite effective pharmacotherapy for positive symptoms of psychosis, cognitive deficits emerge early and are persistent. Efficacy studies have demonstrated cognitive training can produce improvement in cognition, symptoms, and functional outcomes for psychosis. A chart review of seventy-one first episode psychosis patients in a cognitive training program was designed to determine feasibility and effectiveness of the program in a non-research clinic setting. Cognitive testing data, symptom change, and re-hospitalization data were reviewed. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was used to measure processing speed, attention, memory, verbal learning, visual learning, problem solving, and social cognition. Improvements in global cognition were found (p < .05), driven by changes in working memory and speed of processing. The expanded Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS-E) was used to measure change in mental health symptoms. There were no significant changes in symptoms. Participants without comorbid diagnoses, who underwent cognitive training procedures, had lower re-hospitalization rates when compared to another comprehensive first episode program and routine practice. These findings indicate feasibility and effectiveness for implementing cognitive training for first episode patients in a day treatment setting.