Computer-assisted cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: a randomized single-blind pilot study.
Cognitive impairment is a core symptom in schizophrenia that has a significant impact on psychosocial function, but shows a weak response to pharmacological treatment. Consequently, a variety of cognitive remediation strategies have been evaluated to improve cognitive function in schizophrenia. The efficacy of computer-based cognitive remediation as a stand-alone intervention on general measures of neuropsychological function remains unclear. We tested the effectiveness of biweekly training using computerized cognitive remediation programs on neuropsychological and event-related potential outcome measures. Schizophrenia patients were randomly assigned to cognitive remediation training (N=17), active control (TV-watching; N=17), or treatment-as-usual (N=10) groups for ten weeks and run in parallel. Cognitive and ERP measures revealed no differential improvement over time in the cognitive remediation group. Practice effects might explain change over time on several cognitive measures for all groups, consistent with studies indicating task-specific improvement. Computer-assisted cognitive remediation alone may not be sufficient for robust or generalized effects on cognitive and electrophysiological measures in schizophrenia patients.
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. rasso@indiana.edu
Olga
O
Rass
Jennifer K
JK
Forsyth
Amanda R
AR
Bolbecker
William P
WP
Hetrick
Alan
A
Breier
Paul H
PH
Lysaker
Brian F
BF
O'Donnell
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017008:Negotiating / Q000379:methods*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted