Computerized cognitive and social cognition training in schizophrenia for impulsive aggression.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Schizophrenia patients have a higher risk of impulsive aggression.
• Limited psychosocial treatment options exist for aggression in schizophrenia.
• Social cognitive deficits are linked to aggression in schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of combining cognitive and social cognition treatment on impulsive aggression in schizophrenia inpatients.
• To compare the efficacy of combined treatment versus cognitive remediation alone.

Main Methods:

• A two-center study randomized 130 participants with a history of aggression.
• Participants received 36 sessions of either cognitive remediation plus social cognition training or cognitive remediation plus a control.
• Measures of neurocognition, social cognition, and aggression were assessed at baseline and endpoint.

Main Results:

• Both treatment groups showed significant reductions in aggression.
• The combined cognitive and social cognition training group demonstrated greater improvements in neurocognition and social cognition.
• No significant group differences in aggression reduction were found, except on one specific task.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive Remediation Training is an effective non-pharmacological treatment for reducing impulsive aggression in schizophrenia.
• Social cognition training augmented cognitive functions, including emotion recognition and mentalizing, but did not enhance the anti-aggression effect.