Cognitive rehabilitation for schizophrenia: is it possible? Is it necessary?

Full Abstract

Limitations of available psychosocial interventions combined with the increasing evidence that schizophrenia is characterized by diverse deficits in information processing has stimulated great interest in the possibility of cognitive rehabilitation. However, the current optimism seems unjustified. The precise role of information processing in the behavioral handicaps evidenced by schizophrenic patients is not clear, and the neuropsychologic and experimental psychopathology tasks used to assess information processing generally cannot specify precisely which cognitive functions are deficient. Thus, the choice of cognitive targets for rehabilitation is arbitrary. The strategies currently employed for rehabilitation emphasize an exercise model of treatment and the use of complex mnemonics. Neither approach has been successful in rehabilitating brain-injured patients, and preliminary results with schizophrenic patients are not very promising. It is concluded that the field might be better served by focusing on environmental change and compensatory strategies until we determine how and why schizophrenic patients fail.

Author information

Author/s: Bellack, A S (AS);

Affiliation: Medical College of Pennsylvania-EPPI, Philadelphia 19129.

Grants: MH-38636 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; MH-39998 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; MH-41577 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; Review

Journal: Schizophrenia bulletin (Schizophr Bull), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1992-; vol 18 (issue 1) : pp 43-50

Dates: Created 1992/04/28; Completed 1992/04/28; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 1553499, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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