Cognitive functioning as a predictor of response to comprehensive cognitive remediation. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: DeTore, Nicole R.; Mueser, Kim T.; Byrd, Jessica A.; McGurk, Susan R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychiatric research. Volume 113(2019)
• Page Start: 117
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Severe mental illness -- Thinking skills for work -- Cognition -- Cognitive remediation -- Neuropsychological functioning; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental Disorders -- Periodicals; Maladies mentales -- Périodiques; Psychiatry; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.03.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3956

Abstract

Abstract: Cognitive 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 cognitively 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.