Cognitive and social cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia and affective disorder: effects of combining pharmacotherapy with cognitive remediation

TL;DR

This paper explores how combining medication with cognitive training can improve thinking and social skills in patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders.

Contribution

The study introduces a practical approach combining pharmacotherapy and cognitive remediation to address cognitive impairments in psychiatric disorders.

Findings

Cognitive dysfunction can be effectively assessed and captured in clinical practice.

Combining pharmacotherapy with cognitive remediation is recommended for treating cognitive impairments in schizophrenia and affective disorders.

The SCIP tool is effective for evaluating cognitive impairments in psychiatric patients.

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been increasing interest in neurocognitive function, including non-social and social cognition. Cognitive impairment has a significant impact on functional outcome, especially in schizophrenic disorders, but also in affective and other psychiatric disorders.

It is our aim to present the assessment and measurement of cognitive dysfunction through adequate instruments and to evaluate the effects of combining pharmacotherapy and cognitive remediation.

A review of the modern literature is undertaken and results of own investigations using the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP, Sachs G et al. Schizophr Res Cogn. 2021 May 12;25:100197; Sachs G et al. Schizophr Res Cogn. 2022 Jun 6;29:100259) are presented and evaluated.

Our data show that it is possible to capture cognitive dysfunction in clinical practice.

After a differentiated assessment of cognitive dysfunction, a specific combination of pharmacotherapy and cognitive remediation should be applied to patients with schizophrenia and affective disorders.

None Declared