title: Neurocognitive individualized training versus social skills individualized training: a randomized trial in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: Rehabilitation programs integrating cognitive remediation (CR) and psychosocial rehabilitation are often implemented as they seem to yield greater improvements in functional outcome than stand alone treatment approaches. Mechanisms underlying synergistic effects of combining CR with psychosocial interventions are not fully understood. Disentangling the relative contribution of each component of integrated programs might improve understanding of underlying mechanisms. In the present study we compared the efficacy of two components of our rehabilitation program [the Neurocognitive Individualized Training (NIT) and the Social Skills Individualized Training (SSIT)]. Seventy-two patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Changes in cognitive, psychopathological and real-world functioning indices after 6 and 12 months were compared between the two groups. After both 6 and 12 months, NIT produced an improvement of attention, verbal memory and perseverative aspects of executive functioning, while SSIT produced a worsening of visuo-spatial memory and attention and no significant effect on the other cognitive domains. As to the real-world functioning, NIT produced a significant improvement of interpersonal relationships, while SSIT yielded a significant improvement of QLS instrumental role subscale. According to our findings, cognitive training is more effective than social skills training on several cognitive domains and indices of real-world functioning relevant to subject's relationships with other people. Integrated approaches might target different areas of functional impairment but should be planned carefully and individually to fully exploit the synergistic potential.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Bucci
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Piegari
authors: Armida
authors: A
authors: Mucci
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Merlotti
authors: Marcello
authors: M
authors: Chieffi
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: De Riso
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: De Angelis
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Di Munzio
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Galderisi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011936:Reality Testing; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D014706:Verbal Learning
keywords: Cognitive training; Individualized interventions; Real-world functioning; Social skills training