Question: In adults with schizophrenia, how effective is cognitive remediation therapy, compared to treatment as usual, for improving patient outcomes?

Answer:

One systematic review and three additional RCTs reported results indicating that cognitive remediation may have a positive effect on cognitive function when used to treat patients with schizophrenia. However, all four studies had significant methodological flaws and the evidence remains weak. The same four studies also provided weak evidence that cognitive remediation may have positive effects on life skills, social functioning and symptoms. One further, high quality RCT found no significant differences in effectiveness between cognitive remediation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for improving psychological and depressive symptoms in people with schizophrenia. Further, larger, high quality studies are needed to confirm or refute the findings reported by the studies included in this evidence summary.