Problem solving: theoritical and operational contributions to an integrated approach in schizophrenia

The contribution of cognitive psychology to the comprehension of the inform ation treatment deficits among people suffering from schizophrenia has been considerably increasing over the past few years. In fact, the influence of cognitive deficits over the daily fonctionning of a person suffering from schizophrenia is currently under intensive studies and represents a growing field of interest in psychiatry. The analysis of the problem solving proce ss contributes to the demonstration of the cognition-behavior interaction. Indeed, an improved understanding of the problem solving skills allows to l ocate the daily difficulties encountered by the people troubled by schizoph renia and to illustrate the relationship between the cognitive and behavior al systems in addition of highligthing the importance of the affective dime nsion. The objective of this paper is to improved the conceptualisation and operationalisation of the problem solving skills contributing to a better understanding of the schizophrenia. To support this objective, key theoreti cal models pertaining to the problem solving process, emerging from the fie lds of psychology and psychiatry, will be described and compared. First, th e coalescence of the cognitive and behavioral components through the proble m solving process is presented. Second, the importance of emotions within t he management of daily problematic situations is introduced. Accordingly, t o demonstrate the influence of the emotional process over the behavioral co ntrol, a discussion regarding the problem solving process based on the curr ent therapeutic interventions and their impacts over the efficiency and the inference of these habilities over the daily routine is generated Finally, this analysis of the literature surrounding the problem solving concept su pports, through an understanding of the schizophrenia, a global perspective of the disorder. The cognitive, affective and behavioral difficulties enco untered by the people affected by schizophrenia can't be dissociated from a n understanding of the disorder and support interventions at every levels.