New Possibilities in Cognition Enhancement for Schizophrenia

Abstract

Cognitive remediation for schizophrenia and other mental disorders can be divided into two distinctly different approaches. Cognition-enhancing approaches train subjects with laboratory tasks designed to improve specific abilities in various cognitive domains, such as perception, learning, or memory. In contrast, compensatory approaches attempt to bypass cognitive deficits and teach strategies to compensate for them by relying on aids or other processes (1, 2). The article by Fisher et al. (3) in this issue of the Journal represents a new development in the cognition-enhancing approach. They applied to schizophrenia a cognitive training program that was well grounded in a neuroscientific rationale. This and similar training studies will set higher expectations for results in functional benefits for patients. To put this study in perspective, it is useful to review the key findings, establish what new terrain was covered by it, and then focus on critical missing pieces of the cognitive training puzzle.