title: Cognitive Pragmatic Rehabilitation Program in Schizophrenia: A Single Case fMRI Study.
abstract: Introduction.The present study was intended to evaluate the effects of a rehabilitative training, the Cognitive Pragmatic Treatment (CPT), aimed at improving communicative-pragmatic abilities and the related cognitive components, on the cerebral modifications of a single case patient diagnosed with schizophrenia.Methods.The patient underwent two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions, before and after the treatment. In order to assess brain changes, we calculated the Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuation (ALFF) index of the resting-state fMRI signal, which is interpreted as reflecting the intensity of the spontaneous regional activity of the brain. Behavioural measures of the patient's communicative performance were also gathered before and after training and at follow-up.Results.The patient improved his communicative performance in almost all tests. Posttraining stronger ALFF signal emerged in the superior, inferior, and medial frontal gyri, as well as the superior temporal gyri.Conclusions.Even if based on a single case study, these preliminary results show functional changes at the cerebral level that seem to support the patient's behavioural improvements.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Humanities, Research Unit of Logopedics, Child Language Research Center, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Center for Cognitive Science (CSC), University and Polytechnic of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gabbatore
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognitive Science (CSC), University and Polytechnic of Turin, Turin, Italy; Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca M
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6101-8587
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.affiliation: Brain Imaging Group (BIG), Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Geda
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Service, Mental Health Department, ASL-TO3, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gastaldo
authors.affiliation: CCS fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duca
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; CCS fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognitive Science (CSC), University and Polytechnic of Turin, Turin, Italy; Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Bara
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute of Turin, Turin, Italy; Brain Imaging Group (BIG), Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Katiuscia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sacco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*