title: Does Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy (INT) reduce severe negative symptoms in schizophrenia outpatients?
abstract: Negative symptoms often inhibit the social integration of people suffering from schizophrenia. Reducing severe negative symptoms (SNS) in a clinically relevant way is a major unmet need. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy (INT), a group cognitive remediation therapy (CRT), reduces SNS in schizophrenia outpatients. INT was compared with Treatment As Usual (TAU) in a randomized-controlled trial (RCT). A total of 61 SNS outpatients participated in the study, 28 were allocated to the INT group and 33 to the TAU group. A test-battery was used at baseline, post-treatment at 15weeks, and 1-year-follow-up. Remission rates of SNS after therapy were significantly higher for INT compared to TAU. A trend favoring INT was obtained at follow-up. Furthermore, INT showed significantly higher functional outcome during follow-up compared to TAU. Regarding cognition, the strongest significant effect was found in attention post-treatment. No effects between groups on more complex neurocognition and social cognition were evident. SNS outpatients seem to accept INT group intervention as suggested by the high attendance rate.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: daniel.mueller@spk.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khalesi
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Benzing
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Clelia I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Castiglione
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: roder@sunrise.ch.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: Cognitive remediation; Group therapy; Integrated approach; Negative symptoms; RCT