Schizophrenia 06 Feb, 2023 Read Time: 3 mins

Strategies to improve cognition in schizophrenia

Cognition depends upon a complex interaction of brain regions and is often impaired in schizophrenia. Treatment strategies that improve cognition improve patient functioning and quality of life. They include a healthy lifestyle, second-generation antipsychotics, cognitive remediation and aerobic exercise, explained Professor Christoph Correll, Berlin, Germany, and New York, USA at EPA 2022.

Cognitive impairment is common among patients with schizophrenia

Cognitive impairment impacts every aspect of patient functioning and quality of life

Many patients with schizophrenia have cognitive impairment,1 which impacts every aspect of functioning2 and quality of life.3 Treatment of cognitive impairment should therefore be a greater focus for psychiatrists managing patients with schizophrenia, said Professor Correll.

The cognitive impairment can be subdivided into difficulties with learning and remembering information, organizing, planning and problem solving, accurately perceiving the environment, understanding and using language, processing new information, and focusing, maintaining and shifting attention.4,5

Strategies to improve cognition

Targeted improvements in neural system that improve cognition should translate into better community functioning

Cognition depends upon a complex interaction of brain regions,3 Professor Correll explained, with the word “schizophrenia” meaning a schism between the different cognitive, behavioral and affective networks in the brain.

The hierarchical translational model of treatment effects for cognition proposes that targeted improvements in neural system (e.g., efficiency of neural processing) in mental illness that improve cognition should translate into better community functioning (e.g., work and social life),6 Professor Correll said.

Antipsychotic control of positive symptoms of schizophrenia, particularly with second-generation antipsychotics improves cognition

Strategies that improve cognition include:

  • A healthy lifestyle — metabolic syndrome, diabetes and hypertension are all significantly associated with global cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia7
  • Antipsychotic control of positive symptoms of schizophrenia, particularly with second-generation antipsychotics8,9
  • Cognitive remediation — a behavioral training-based intervention to improve cognitive processes, especially when administered by a trained therapist and integrated with psychosocial rehabilitation10
  • Aerobic exercise11

Second-generation antipsychotics, cognitive remediation and aerobic exercise improve cognition with similar, but small effect sizes

The effect sizes of second-generation antipsychotics,9 cognitive remediation12 and aerobic exercise11 on improving cognition are similar and small, however, said Professor Correll. More research is needed to investigate whether the effects might be additive when these treatments are used together.

Our correspondent’s highlights from the symposium are meant as a fair representation of the scientific content presented. The views and opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of Lundbeck.

References

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  2. Keefe RS. Cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia: effects and treatment. J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;68 Suppl 14:8–13.
  3. Millan MJ, Agid Y, Brüne M, et al. Cognitive dysfunction in psychiatric disorders: characteristics, causes and the quest for improved therapy. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2012;11(2):141–68.
  4. Kalkstein S, Hurford I, Gur RC. Neurocognition in schizophrenia. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2010;4:373–90.
  5. Butler PD, Silverstein SM, Dakin SC. Visual perception and its impairment in schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry. 2008;64(1):40–7.
  6. Keshavan MS, Vinogradov S, Rumsey J, et al. Cognitive training in mental disorders: update and future directions. Am J Psychiatry. 2014;171(5):510–22.
  7. Hagi K, Nosaka T, Dickinson D, et al. Association between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive impairment in people with schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(5):510–18.
  8. Davidson M, Galderisi S, Weiser M, et al. Cognitive effects of antipsychotic drugs in first-episode schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder: a randomized, open-label clinical trial (EUFEST). Am J Psychiatry. 2009;166(6):675–82.
  9. Zhang JP, Gallego JA, Robinson DG, et al. Efficacy and safety of individual second-generation vs. first-generation antipsychotics in first-episode psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013;16(6):1205–18.
  10. Vita A, Barlati S, Ceraso A, et al. Effectiveness, core elements, and moderators of response of cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(8):848–58.
  11. Firth J, Stubbs B, Rosenbaum S, et al. Aerobic exercise improves cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Schizophr Bull. 2017;43(3):546–56.
  12. Wykes T, Huddy V, Cellard C, et al. A meta-analysis of cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: methodology and effect sizes. Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(5):472–85.