Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
Published on: June 6, 2025
Effectiveness of Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy compared to Physical Exercise and Treatment As Usual in
Giacomo Deste1, Stefano Barlati2, Gabriele Nibbio3
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Valcamonica, Italy.
Background:
Cognitive impairment represents one of the core features of schizophrenia, with an important negative impact of psychosocial functioning and limited pharmacological treatment options. However, psychosocial interventions targeting cognitive performance appear to provide significant benefits.
Aims:
The aims of the present randomized controlled trial were to compare two evidence-based approaches to treat cognitive impairment and a control condition.
Methods:
A total of 132 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia were allocated to three treatment arms: a Cognitive Remediation intervention (Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy - INT, n = 53), Physical Exercise (PE, n = 37), and Treatment As Usual (TAU, n = 42) and assessed at the beginning and at the conclusion of the treatment period (15 weeks) with measures of symptoms severity, cognitive performance, and psychosocial functioning.
Results:
Significant between-groups post-treatment effects were observed for Executive Functions, Social Cognition, and Global Cognitive Performance. Post-hoc analyses showed the superiority of INT over TAU on Executive Functions and Global Cognitive Performance. The superiority of INT over PE in Executive Functions and Social Cognition also emerged in the post-hoc analyses. No significant between-groups differences were observed regarding symptoms severity and functional outcomes.
Conclusions:
The results of this study confirm the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation, and in particular of INT as an evidence-based treatment for outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Even though the effects on the outcomes in this study observed for PE were not statistically significant, the PE intervention might represent a valid approach in rehabilitation settings.
