Cognitive remediation. A new chance in rehabilitation of schizophrenia

A critical review of current approaches and principles of cognitive remedia tion strategies in rehabilitation of schizophrenia is given. Selection of c ognitive functions targeted in compensatory training programs could be base d an results of neuropsychological predictor research on social and vocatio nal functioning in community and neuropsychological rate limiting factors i n rehabilitation. Methodological flaws in data base, missing of task analys is of more complex skills like social perception, social skills and interpe rsonal problem solving and the lack of evaluation of training generalizatio n on work performance are discussed. Finally the cognitive remediation program developed in the Department of Ge neral Psychiatry and Psychotherapy/University of Freiburg, Germany is propo sed. The components focused on training in attention, memory,and executive function (decision making, planning). Compensatory strategy building,and co mputer-mediated automatization are integrated in a group setting.