Predictors of Response to Cognitive Remediation in Schizophrenia

It has been suggested that level of cognitive function is a "rate-limiter" for the efficacy
of other psychosocial treatments in schizophrenia. Cognitive remediation, which entails
training and practice of successively more difficult cognitive exercises, has shown efficacy
in improving cognitive function. However, the rate of improvement has not been uniform among
patients receiving this intervention. Given the time- and cost-intensiveness of cognitive
remediation, it is important to examine variables that will predict response to this
treatment, as well as to examine the clinical significance of any improvement.

The current proposal has two aims: 1) to determine which neuropsychological, demographic,
and illness variables predict response to cognitive remediation training; and 2) to
determine the proportion of patients whose performance returns to normal following cognitive
remediation training. For the first part of the proposed study, 50 outpatients diagnosed
with schizophrenia will be invited to participate in an 8-week trial of cognitive
remediation training. Detailed neuropsychological, demographic, symptom and illness course
variables will be collected prior to training, at the conclusion of training, and 4 months
from study intake. In order to answer the second question, additional data on the
computerized task performance for healthy controls will be collected, and compared to
patient data, in order to determine what constitutes normal-range performance

Inclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder

- English speakers

- Clinically stable

- No substance abuse in past 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

- Traumatic brain injury

- Neurological disease

- Diagnosis of mental retardation