Cognitive mechanisms, psychosocial functioning, and neurocognitive rehabilitation in schizophrenia.
The aim of the present study is to test Brenner's model of cognitive functioning in schizophrenia. It is assumed that elementary cognitive disorders (attention and encoding) and complex cognitive disorders (recall, concept formation) reinforce each other. Cognitive disorders are supposed to cause detrimental effects on functional outcome. We used cognitive rehabilitation as a strategy to induce cognitive changes in 27 patients assigned to treatment groups following the cognitive modules of the Integrated Psychological Treatment (IPT). Ten schizophrenic patients without cognitive impairments worked as a control group. With only one minor conceptual change (replacing concept formation with executive function, a more comprehensive construct), we found that our data fitted with Brenner's model. A relationship has been found between neuropsychological improvements and higher levels of autonomy and social functioning. These findings have important implications not only for cognitive assessment but also for selecting targets in cognitive rehabilitation.
Penadés
Rafael
R
Institute of Biomedical Research August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
Boget
Teresa
T
Catalán
Rosa
R
Bernardo
Miquel
M
Gastó
Cristobal
C
Salamero
Manel
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment