Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026
09:29
Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Published on: January 9, 2015
Effectiveness of attention training in schizophrenia
1Clinical Psychiatry and Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.
Schizophrenia Bulletin
|March 21, 1998
Summary
Attention training significantly improved information processing in schizophrenia patients. This computerized remediation offers a feasible approach to address core attention deficits in chronic schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Schizophrenia is characterized by significant deficits in attention and information processing.
- These cognitive impairments negatively impact daily functioning and recovery.
- Current treatment often fails to adequately address these core cognitive deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a computerized attention training program for individuals with chronic schizophrenia.
- To determine if targeted attention remediation can improve information processing abilities.
- To assess the impact of attention training on overall psychiatric symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-four inpatients with chronic schizophrenia were recruited and randomly assigned to either an attention remediation group or a control group.
- The experimental group underwent 18 sessions of computerized attention training.
- The control group participated in 18 sessions of viewing video documentaries.
- Cognitive function was assessed using the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) before and after the intervention period.
- Psychiatric symptoms were evaluated using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).
Main Results:
- Patients in the attention training group showed statistically significant improvements on the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) compared to the control group.
- The control group exhibited no significant changes in CPT performance.
- Both groups demonstrated improvements in overall Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores, but the attention training group showed significantly greater improvement.
- These findings indicate a specific benefit of attention remediation beyond general therapeutic engagement.
Conclusions:
- Computerized attention training is a feasible and effective method for remediating core attention deficits in chronic schizophrenia.
- Behavioral learning and practice can lead to measurable improvements in cognitive function in this population.
- Attention remediation may contribute to broader symptom reduction in schizophrenia, suggesting its potential as an adjunctive therapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
01:28Drug Therapy
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.