Computerized cognitive remediation therapy, REHACOM, in first episode of schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 281; p. 112563
• Main Authors: García-Fernández, Lorena, Cabot-Ivorra, Nuria, Rodríguez-García, Victoria, Pérez-Martín, Jorge, Dompablo, Mónica, Pérez-Gálvez, Bartolomé, Rodriguez-Jimenez, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.11.2019
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Cognitive Remediation - methods; Female; Humans; Male; Outpatients; Schizophrenia - therapy; Social Adjustment; Social Behavior; Therapy, Computer-Assisted; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112563

•The REHACOM has not proved to be effective on improving cognition in first episode psychosis patients.•The REHACOM has not proved to be effective on improving functioning in first episode psychosis patients.•An intensive treatment program for patients with a first episode of psychosis could mitigate the effectiveness of the REHACOM. Patients with schizophrenia show cognitive impairments that have been linked to poor social functioning. Computerized cognitive remediation therapy has shown to be effective in improving both cognition and functioning in chronic schizophrenia, but relatively little is known about how these approaches improve cognition and functioning when applied to early stages of psychosis. Eighty-six participants with a first episode of psychosis, undergoing a specific program for early stages of schizophrenia, undertook either the REHACOM computerized cognitive remediation intervention (n = 36), or an active control condition (n = 50) consisting in 24 one-hour sessions addressed twice a week. Clinical features, cognition and functioning were assessed at baseline, post-treatment and six months after finishing the intervention. A significant progressive improvement in neurocognition and functioning was globally shown with no differences observed between the experimental and control group at post training or follow up. All cognitive domains but Social Cognition improved between 0.5 and 1 S.D. through the study period. The computerized cognitive remediation therapy REHACOM has not proved to be effective on improving cognition nor functioning compared to controls in outpatients with a first episode of schizophrenia.