Addressing executive functioning and cognitive rehabilitation in the treatment of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are currently viewed as having a neuropsyc hological basis included in the etiology. Cognitive deficits that occur in schizophrenia are primarily observed in the areas of attention-concentratio n, memory, and planning. These abilities are commonly viewed under the broa der spectrum of executive functioning. Research has shown that these execut ive functioning skills can be improved through the use of cognitive rehabil itation interventions. This article includes a case study documenting the u se of cognitive rehabilitation strategies with a patient diagnosed with sch izophrenia who possessed documented deficits in executive functioning. The discussion illustrates the possible progress that may be made in the treatm ent of schizophrenia when this additional tier of intervention is used.