Cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia - Medical and psychological treatment

Primarily from the perspective of psychopharmacology, schizophrenic symptom atology has recently been dichotomized into "plus" and "minus" symptoms, al though the role of cognitive dysfunctions has been regarded as particularly important for the diagnosis since the time of Eugen Bleuler. Many studies show that schizophrenic patients suffer consistently from cognitive dysfunc tion. Among these, are impairments of attention and memory functions as wel l as executive functions such as planning and problem solving. These impair ments are stable or progressive and often continue into the remission phase of schizophrenia and impair both social integration as well as occupationa l performance. In this overview, research results on cognitive dysfunction in patients with schizophrenic illnesses and their relation to psychosocial disabilities are described first. The therapeutic value and possible clini cal-practice implications of atypical anti-psychotics and various cognitive therapy methods are then presented. Methodological weaknesses and open que stions, both pharmacological and with regard to cognitive interventions, ar e discussed.