Computer-assisted cognition training for schizophrenic patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of computer-assisted cognition training on the cognitive functioning of schizophrenic patients. Methods One hundred and four persons with schizophrenia were randomly divided into a research group of 51 cases and a control group of 53. The former were given computerized cognition training covering attention, memory and executive functions. The training lasted 2 months. The controls received regular occupational and recreational therapy. Before and after the treatment the 2 groups were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome scale (PANSS), the Trail Making tests A and B (TMTs), Wechsler's memory scale (WMS) and the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST). Results The average total PANSS score of the research group declined significantly from (70.23±7.62) before treatment to (59.82±8.41) after treatment; so did that of the control group from (68.32±10.14) to (59.45±9.05). The average negative symptoms scale score of the treatment group and the control group also decreased significantly for (21.46±3.26) before treatment to (16.67±3.20), and from (20.82±4.21) to (17.08±3.23) respectively, but there was no significant difference between the groups in the magnitude. The research group's average TMT A and TMT B scores also decreased from(51.76±21.18) and (114.31±35.76) to (44.14±17.51) and (96.47±34.43), while no significant difference was observed before and after the treatment in the control group. The WMS recognition and regeneration scores of the research group improved significantly from (5.83±3.12) and (8.63±3.45) to (8.21±3.96) and (10.24±3.52) after intervention, while no improvement was found in the control group. The same trend was observed in the total test number, the continuous error numbers, the correct numbers and the classification number scores in the WCST. Conclusion Computerized cognition training can improve the cognition of persons with schizophrenia to some extent. Key words: Schizophrenia; Cognitive therapy; Computer-assisted therapy; Cognitive disorders