Executive functions (performance on WCTS) Attention Memory
Remediation strategies for improving performance on WCST
Not investigated
Improvement in executive functions: large mean ES () Attention: mixed results Memory: nonconclusive results
Not investigated
Perseverative errors, categories achieved, and conceptual level responses can be improved utilizing extra instructions, repeated practice, or reinforcement
Computer assisted and noncomputer assisted, with and without strategy coaching and compensatory strategies
Reduction in symptom severity: small-to-medium ES ()
Improvement in neuropsychological performance: small-to-medium ES ()
Improvement in everyday functioning: small-to-medium ES ()
Both different types of approaches, computer assisted or not, have effective components that hold promise for improving cognitive performance, symptoms, and everyday functioning
Individual versus group setting, computer versus noncomputer assisted, with and without strategy coaching, compensatory strategies, and social cognitive training
Reduction in symptom severity: small ES ()
Improvement in cognitive performance: medium ES ()
Improvement in psychosocial functioning: small-to-medium ES ()
The impact of cognitive remediation on functional outcomes is significantly greater in studies that also provided psychiatric rehabilitation, suggesting that these two treatment approaches may work in a synergistic way
Improvement in general cognition: small-to-moderate ES () Improvement in social cognition: moderate ES ()
Not investigated
The results support the efficacy of CACR particularly in social cognition. The difficulty in targeting specific domains suggests a “nonspecific” effect of CACR
Individual versus group setting, computer versus noncomputer assisted, with and without strategy coaching, compensatory strategies, and social cognitive training
Reduction in symptom severity: small ES (), but no longer significant at followup
Improvement in global cognitive performance: moderate ES () Improvement in social cognition moderate ES ()
Improvement in psychosocial functioning: moderate ES ()
Significantly stronger effects on functioning are found when CR is provided together with another psychiatric rehabilitation. A much larger effect is present when a strategic approach is adopted
Symptoms, cognitive performance, social cognition, and functioning
IPT
Reduction in symptom severity: moderate ES ()
Improvement in neuropsychological performance: moderate ES () Improvement in social cognition: moderate-to-large ES ()
Improvement in psychosocial functioning: moderate ES ()
The cognitive and social subprograms of IPT may work in a synergistic manner, thereby enhancing the transfer of therapy effects over time and improving functional recovery
Social cognition, symptoms, and community and institutional functioning
Social cognitive training
Reduction in symptoms: moderate-to-large ES () No significant effect on positive and negative symptoms
Improvement in social cognition: (i) moderate-to-large ES on FAR: identification () and discrimination (), (ii) small-to-moderate ES on ToM () No significant effect on social cue perception and attributional style
Improvement in psychosocial functioning: moderate-to-large ES ()
This is the first meta-analysis on social cognitive training in schizophrenia. Social cognitive training is effective in improving community and institutional functioning
CR: cognitive remediation; ES: effect size (Cohen’s ); FAR: facial affect recognition; RCT: randomized controlled trials; WCST: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
*Effects were categorized as small (), moderate-large (–0.8), or large ( or greater) [75].