Efficacy of Cognitive Remediation in Schizophrenia: A Short Review of Its Variable Effects According to Cognitive Domain

Cognitive impairment is a symptom of schizophrenia and strongly associated with impaired social function. In recent years, cognitive interventions (cognitive remediation therapies) have been implemented and their results have also been reported. Intervention studies have been conducted using a variety of methods that differ in terms of terminology, approach, and targeted cognitive domains. In this study, we examined trends in recent cognitive remediation research conducted subsequent to the meta-analyses of McGurk et al. (2007) and Wykes et al. (2011). We identified studies conducted between 2009 and 2013 to examine computer-assisted cognitive remediation and collated and analyzed the literature describing their major results and trends. Our results indicated improved cognitive performance subsequent to cognitive remediation therapy using computer programs. We found promising outcomes, particularly in reasoning and problem solving, verbal learning and memory, verbal working memory, and attention and vigilance, which replicated the findings of Wykes et al. (2011).