title: Is there any impact of cognitive remediation on an ecological test in schizophrenia?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive deficits are commonly reported in schizophrenia and have a significant impact on the daily life of patients and on their social and work inclusion. Cognitive remediation therapies (CRT) may enhance the capabilities of schizophrenia patients. Although social and work integration is the ultimate goal of CRT, previous studies have failed to carry out a detailed assessment of the effects on everyday life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nine schizophrenia patients were randomised into two groups (remediation or usual treatment) to test the effects of a new remediation programme, which included both rehearsal and strategy learning, on cognitive functions. An ecological test was used to evaluate its transfer to daily living skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cognitive improvements are revealed in CRT patients, mainly in memory and executive functions. Patients showing some deficiencies to perform the ecological test had better scores after the CRT. Moreover, they significantly improve their social activity scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CRT would facilitate mental load monitoring by enhancing or reallocating cognitive resources, facilitating the patient's organisation and autonomy. The rehearsal learning approach improves the ability to carry out automatic operations that are less demanding in terms of cognitive resources, thereby increasing the resources available for acquisition and efficient use of strategies provided during the strategy learning approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Saint-Etienne, France. aureroyer@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Royer
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grosselin
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellot
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pellet
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Billard
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brouillet
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massoubre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004522:Educational Status; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents