title: Combining social cognitive treatment, cognitive remediation, and functional skills training in schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: This study examined the efficacy of an integrative cognitive remediation program (REHACOP) in improving cognition and functional outcome in patients with schizophrenia. The program combines cognitive remediation, social cognitive intervention, and functional skills training. Few studies have attempted this approach. One hundred and eleven patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to either the cognitive remediation group (REHACOP) or an active control group (occupational activities) for 4 months (three sessions per week, 90 min). Primary outcomes were change on general neurocognitive performance and social cognition, including theory of mind (ToM), emotion perception (EP), attributional style, and social perception (SP). Secondary outcomes included changes on clinical symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) and functional outcome (UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment and the Global Assessment of Functioning). The trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02796417). No baseline group differences were found. Significant differences were found in the mean change between the REHACOP group and control group in neurocognition ([Formula: see text]), SP ([Formula: see text]), ToM ([Formula: see text]), EP ([Formula: see text]), negative symptoms ([Formula: see text]), emotional distress ([Formula: see text]), Global Assessment of Functioning ([Formula: see text]), and UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment ([Formula: see text]). The combination of cognitive remediation, social cognitive intervention, and functional skills training demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful changes in neurocognition, social cognition, negative, and functional disability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto , Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.affiliation: Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto , Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Naroa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ibarretxe-Bilbao
authors.affiliation: Refractory Psychosis Unit, Hospital Psiquiátrico de Alava, C/Alava, Vitoria, Spain; Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, School of Medicine and Odontology, University of the Basque Country, Vizcaya, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Red de Salud Mental de Bizkaia , Bilbao, Osakidetza.
authors.forename: Maria B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Iriarte
authors.affiliation: Refractory Psychosis Unit, Hospital Psiquiátrico de Alava, C/Alava, Vitoria, Spain; Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, School of Medicine and Odontology, University of the Basque Country, Vizcaya, Spain; CIBERSAM, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Edorta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elizagarate
authors.affiliation: Red de Salud Mental de Bizkaia , Bilbao, Osakidetza.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garay
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, School of Medicine and Odontology, University of the Basque Country, Vizcaya, Spain; CIBERSAM, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario Alava-Sede Santiago, C/Olaguibel, Vitoria, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Red de Salud Mental de Bizkaia , Bilbao, Osakidetza.
authors.forename: Aránzazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iribarren
authors.affiliation: Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto , Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ojeda