Can Cognitive Remediation in Groups Prevent Relapses? Results of a 1-Year Follow-up Randomized Controlled Trial

Müller, Daniel; Khalesi, Zahra; Roder, Volker (2020). Can Cognitive Remediation in Groups Prevent Relapses? Results of a 1-Year Follow-up Randomized Controlled Trial. The journal of nervous and mental disease, 208(5), pp. 362-370. Wolters Kluwer Health 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001146

Preview

Text Can_Cognitive_Remediation_in_Groups_Prevent.2.pdf - Published Version Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (382kB) | Preview

International guidelines define relapse prevention for schizophrenia patients as a key therapeutic aim. However, approximately 80% to 90% of schizo- phrenia patients experience further symptom exacerbation after the first episode. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether group integrated neurocog- nitive therapy (INT), a cognitive remediation approach, reduces relapse rates in schizophrenia outpatients. INT was compared with treatment as usual (TAU) in a randomized controlled trial. Fifty-eight stabilized outpatients participated in the study with 32 allocated to the INT group and 26 to the TAU group. A test battery was used at baseline, posttreatment at 15 weeks, and a 1-year follow-up. Relapse rates were significantly lower in the INT condition compared with TAU during therapy as well as at follow-up. The relapse rate after therapy was associated with significant reductions in negative and general symptoms, improvements in functional outcome, and overall cognition. Out of these variables, negative symptoms were identified to show the strongest association with relapses after therapy. The primary outcome of this study suggests that INT can prevent relapses in schizophrenia outpatients.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

367 since deposited on 23 Dec 2020
261 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item