Cognitive Remediation Therapy in Chronic Schizophrenia

Abstract

Cognitive impairments are now recognized as one of the most ubiquitous features of schizophrenia. Cognitive deficits appear to play a large role in how patients with schizophrenia function in their everyday lives. The role of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia may be gauged by the fact that even when patients with schizophrenia are relatively free of psychotic symptoms, many still have extraordinary difficulty with communication, motivation, self-care, and establishing and maintaining relationships with others. Patients with schizophrenia are often additionally treated with supportive psychotherapy, behavioral management, or social skills training as required. However, the efficacy of these adjunct therapies could be limited in presence of marked cognitive deficits. Thus it becomes crucial to have specific intervention for the underlying cognitive deficits that appear detrimental to improvement of functioning of patients with schizophrenia. The present chapter focuses on cognitive training based intervention program for schizophrenia patients and its efficacy.