A Short Course Computer-Assisted Cognitive Remediation in Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: cognitive remediation therapy (crt) is used to improve cognitive functioningin patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (ssds). most of the previous studies hadincorporated a long rehabilitation program. this study aimed to evaluate the effects of a shortand easy to implement computer-based crt on cognitive performance in patients with ssdsusing a randomized controlled trial design.methods: sixty-two patients with ssds were enrolled in roozbeh hospital (tehrancity, iran); they were randomized to either receive a crt program added to the standardpharmacological treatment (n=31) or the standard treatment alone (n=31). the remediationconsisted of 10 sessions of crt provided 2-3 times a week applying the cogpack software.the cognitive performance was assessed in attention, memory, and executive functions beforeand after the intervention using the respective tests of the cambridge neuropsychological testautomated battery (cantab).results: this study did not demonstrate any significant improvement in attention and executivefunction between the experimental and control group. however, we observed modest improvementsin some aspects of visual memory (first trial memory score, f=9.152, p<0.001, cohen’s d=0.40;mean errors to success, f=6.991, p=0.011, cohen’s d=0.14; stages completed on the first trial,f=7.155, p=0. 010, cohen’s d=0.71; total errors, f=5.730, p=0.020, cohen’s d=0.53).conclusion: we observed only modest improvements in the patients’ cognitive functioningafter a short course of crt. the short duration of the training and lack of a comprehensiverehabilitation plan may explain the obtained findings.