Evaluation of a cognitive strategy training in vocational rehabilitation of schizophrenic outpatients

Background: Cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia are one of the most imp ortant rate limiting factors concerning social and vocational role function ing and response to psychosocial intervention.. Objective: Effectivity of a computer assisted cognitive remediation program for schizophrenic outpatie nts (small group setting, 16 sessions over 8 weeks during vocational rehabi litation). The trained metacognitice skills focused deficits in attention, verbal memory and executive function: Methods: 59 DSM-IV-schizophrenic outp atients were alocated by random to one of two conditions, cognitive strateg y training or control group. Stratification was done concerning type of neu roleptic treatment: conventional agents or atypical agents: Results: The co gnitive remediation program was shown to be effective in the reduction of a ttentional deficits, gains in delayed recall, learning and executive functi oning (working memory). Conclusions: The most important result was progress in learning ability (RAVLT) which points to expanding rehabilitation poten tial by cognitive remediation in schizophrenia. Generalization of effects o n community functioning like social and vocational role functioning and sta bility of therapy outcome over time are still open questions which are hope d to be answered in data analyses of a current study for schizophrenic inpa tients.