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. 2021 Jul 9:12:649737.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.649737. eCollection 2021.

Effects of Cognitive Remediation on Cognition, Metacognition, and Social Cognition in Patients With Schizophrenia

Cristiana Montemagni  1 , Elisa Del Favero  1 , Cecilia Riccardi  1 , Laura Canta  2 , Mario Toye  2 , Enrico Zanalda  2 , Paola Rocca  1
Affiliations

Effects of Cognitive Remediation on Cognition, Metacognition, and Social Cognition in Patients With Schizophrenia

Cristiana Montemagni et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate in a sample of outpatients with schizophrenia (SCZ) the effectiveness of a cognitive remediation (CR) program (through the use of the Cogpack software) [computer-assisted CR (CACR)] in addition to standard therapy on cognitive outcomes as compared with that in a control active group (CAG) and to highlight a possible effect on social cognition (SC), metacognition, symptomatology, and real-world functioning. Of the 66 subjects enrolled, 33 were allocated to CACR and 33 to the CAG. Twenty-three patients in the CACR group and 25 subjects in the CAG completed at least 80% of the 48 prescribed CACR sessions, performed twice a week, for a total of 24 weeks of treatment. A significant time × group interaction was evident, suggesting that patients undergoing CACR intervention improved in specific metacognitive sub-functions (understanding others' mind and mastery), some cognitive domains (verbal learning processing speed, visual learning, reasoning, and problem solving) (h2 = 0.126), depressive symptoms, SC, awareness of symptoms, and real-world functioning domains (community activities and interpersonal relationships) more significantly than did patients undergoing CAG. The most noticeable differential improvement between the two groups was detected in two metacognitive sub-functions (understanding others' mind and mastery), in verbal learning, in interpersonal relationship, and in depressive symptomatology, achieving large effect sizes. These are encouraging findings in support of the possible integration of CACR in rehabilitation practice in the Italian mental health services.

Keywords: cognition; cognitive remediation; metacognition; schizophrenia; social cognition.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of assessment for the eligibility in the two groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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