Remediation of Visual Processing Impairments in Schizophrenia: Where We Are and Where We Need to Be

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Visual perceptual deficits are well-established in schizophrenia and are related to poorer outcomes and functioning. Improvement in perceptual functioning with training has been reliably demonstrated in healthy populations, yet relatively few studies have examined approaches to targeting visual processing dysfunction in schizophrenia. This review summarizes recent literature investigating visual remediation in schizophrenia, identifies current limitations, and suggests directions for further research. Existing studies provide support for the remediation of visual processing impairments in schizophrenia and demonstrate that improvement occurs at low-level, mid-level, and higher-level stages of processing. These studies also suggest that improvements in visual processes may generalize to other visual perceptual and visual cognitive functions. These early findings are promising and demonstrate the effectiveness of visual remediation interventions in schizophrenia. However, more empirical research is needed to determine the effectiveness of current interventions, to develop new interventions, to isolate the relevant mechanisms of change, and to promote the generalization of gains to other functions.