Cognitive Functioning as a Predictor of Response to Comprehensive Cognitive Remediation

Publication date: Available online 21 March 2019Source: Journal of Psychiatric ResearchAuthor(s): Nicole R. DeTore, Kim T. Mueser, Jessica A. Byrd, Susan R. McGurkAbstractCognitive remediation is aimed at reducing cognitive impairments in severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, but little is known about whether severity of cognitive impairment predicts benefit from this intervention. To address this question, this study aggregated data from five randomized controlled trials (N=300) of a standardized comprehensive, multimodal outpatient cognitive remediation program, the Thinking Skills for Work program, and evaluated whether baseline level of cognitive impairment differentially predicted improvement in cognitive functioning following cognitive remediation vs. usual services. Using standardized scores of neuropsychological functioning to designate “low average,” “moderate,” and “severe” levels of cognitive impairment, participants with greater cognitive impairment were found to benefit differentially more from cognitive remediation than usual services compared to less cognitive impaired participants. The findings were unaffected by statistically controlling for participant demographic and clinical characteristics. The findings suggest that individuals with the greatest cognitive impairment, for whom cognitive remediation was developed, are also most likely to benefit from this intervention.

Source: Journal of Psychiatric Research - March 21, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research