1717 – Cognitive rehabilitation as part of the treatment of patients with dual diagnosis

Abstract

Introduction Cognitive deficits belong to the most common symptoms of schizophrenia as well as of disorders related to substance abuse. It is then important to cope with those deficits effectively during the treatment of rehabilitation process of patients with dual diagnosis. Objectives To analyze cognitive changes in patients with dual diagnosis participating in a cognitive rehabilitation program. Methods 120 patients suffering from schizophrenia with a comorbid drug addiction were recruited to the study. All of them participated in a treatment program in a modified therapeutic community (TC) for patients with dual diagnosis. During their treatment they also took part in a program of rehabilitation of cognitive functions with a use of a computerized training battery. The cognitive functions were assessed twice: first time at the beginning of the treatment and second time after six weeks of cognitive rehabilitation. The applied neuropsychological tests were TMT, part A and B, Stroop Test and Verbal Fluency Test. The intensity of schizophrenic symptoms were measured by the PANSS scale. All participants of the study were treated with second generation antipsychotics. Results After six weeks of cognitive rehabilitation all patient improved significantly in all applied neuropsychological tests. There were no significant changes in the PANSS scale results. Conclusions The above results confirm the necessity of introducing cognitive rehabilitation in therapeutic programs for patients with dual diagnosis. The above results may also be an effect of other therapeutic interventions used in the TC rehabilitation model, antipsychotic treatment or other factors, which need further investigation.