Memory and cognitive training of schizophrenics

OBJECTIVE: Neurocognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia include difficulties with working memory, executive function, sustained attention spans, abstract thinking and planning ability. This study evaluated the effectiveness of scaffolding technique in improving the neurocognitive deficits of schizophrenics.

METHODS: Thirty-five schizophrenic male patients were recruited for this study from a tertiary care hospital and a private psychiatric out-patient clinic. However, only 20 patients met the inclusion criteria for this research. All subjects were Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) diagnosed schizophrenics. Psychopathology was assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was utilized to assess patients’ cognitive deficits and as a training tool.

RESULTS: The findings in this study demonstrated that memory and cognitive training of schizophrenics using the scaffolding technique resulted in a significant improvement of these patients’ performance on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, a multi-dimensional task that requires many neurocognitive skills such as spatial memory function, abstraction, visual attention, categorization, cognitive analysis ability, and concept formation. A 6 week retest interval of the memory and cognitive trained schizophrenics showed the durability and stability of cognition, executive function, and memory in schizophrenics who received training.

CONCLUSION: Scaffolding, a memory training technique, is an effective tool in improving memory and neurocognitive deficits of schizophrenics.