Cognitive therapies and insight in early schizophrenia: A systematic review

This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of cognitive-behavioral and metacognitive therapies on cognitive and clinical insight into early schizophrenia disease.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted across several databases, including Pubmed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library, focusing on studies published between 2006 and May 2024. The studies selected for this review were either randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cross-sectional studies, or exploratory studies.

Nine studies were included (7 RCTs, one cross-sectional study, and one exploratory study), using various tools to assess cognitive and clinical insight. The findings showed mixed results: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and metacognitive therapies (MCT) demonstrated varied outcomes. Some studies reported improvements in self-reflection and self-certainty, two facets of cognitive insight, especially in young patients.

This study highlights the complexity of the relationship between different therapies and insight improvement in early schizophrenia. This result emphasizes the need for additional studies to improve our understanding of the effects of cognitive therapies, given that the current number of studies is too limited to draw conclusions. Future research should focus on developing more personalized and effective treatment strategies to better address the individual needs of young patients.