Skip to main content
Log in

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy in Early Schizophrenia: A Qualitative and Quantitative Case Series of Patients’ Experiences

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Evidence shows that cognitive remediation therapy improves cognition in individuals with schizophrenia. However, its broader impact on patients’ lives remains unclear. Furthermore, little is known about the motivational factors influencing treatment engagement. This quantitative and qualitative case series study identified factors that influence patients’ experiences while receiving cognitive enhancement therapy (CET). Nine individuals with schizophrenia who received CET completed two questionnaires and participated in semi-structured focus groups or in an individual interview about their experience with CET. Four deductive themes were assessed when analyzing responses: (1) perceived impact, (2) motivational facilitators, (3) motivational barriers, and (4) suggestions to improve CET. All participants reported that CET was helpful, and the majority enjoyed participating in CET. Most participants reported high satisfaction with their work and school, but lower satisfaction with their social life. Results also indicated perceived improvements in negative symptoms, neurocognition, and confidence following CET. Participants identified extrinsic, intrinsic, and program-specific facilitators and barriers motivating their participation in the program. Suggestions to improve CET included changes to treatment design and content. Altogether, these results indicate that the perspective of CET end users can provide useful information on the factors influencing treatment engagement, satisfaction, and perceived impact.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of Data and Material

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Andreasen NC. Scale for the assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS). Iowa City: University of Iowa; 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Andreasen NC. The scale for the assessment of negative symptoms (SANS): conceptual and theoretical foundations. Br J Psychiatry. 1989;155(7):49–52. https://doi.org/10.1192/s0007125000291496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Balzan RP, Neaves A, Denson LA, Liu D, Galletly C. Cognitive deficit awareness in schizophrenia: absent, intact, or somewhere in-between? Cogniti Neuropsychiatry. 2014;19(6):471–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/13546805.2014.90931.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Barch DM, Ceaser A. Cognition in schizophrenia: core psychological and neural mechanisms. Trends Cognit Sci. 2012;16(1):27–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2011.11.015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Best MW, Milanovic M, Tran T, Leung P, Jackowich R, Gauvin S, Leibovitz T, Bowie CR. Motivation and engagement during cognitive training for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Schizophr Res: Cognit. 2020;19:100151.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bowie CR. Cognitive remediation for severe mental illness: state of the field and future directions. World Psychiatry. 2019;18(3):274. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20660.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Bowie CR, Bell MD, Fiszdon JM, Johannesen JK, Lindenmayer JP, McGurk SR, et al. Cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: an expert working group white paper on core techniques. Schizophr Res. 2020;215:49–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.10.047.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bowie CR, Grossman M, Gupta M, Holshausen K, Best MW. Action-based cognitive remediation for individuals with serious mental illnesses: effects of real-world simulations and goal setting on functional and vocational outcomes. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2017;40(1):53–60. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000189.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bowie CR, McGurk SR, Mausbach B, Patterson TL, Harvey PD. Combined cognitive remediation and functional skills training for schizophrenia: effects on cognition, functional competence, and real-world behavior. Am J Psychiatry. 2012;169(7):710–8. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.11091337.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Bryce SD, Lee SJ, Ponsford JL, Lawrence RJ, Tan EJ, Rossell SL. The impact of intrinsic motivation on session attendance and reliable cognitive improvement in cognitive remediation in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2018;202:354–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2018.06.028.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cella M, Reeder C, Wykes T. Group cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: exploring the role of therapist support and metacognition. Psychol Psychother: Theory Res Pract. 2016;89(1):1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12062.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Chang WC, Chan TCW, Chiu SS, Hui CLM, Chan SKW, Lee EHM, et al. Self-perceived cognitive functioning and its relationship with objective performance in first-episode schizophrenia: the Subjective Cognitive Impairment Scale. Compr Psychiatry. 2015;56:42–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.10.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Chinman M, Lucksted A, Gresen R, Davis M, Losonczy M, Sussner B, Martone L. Early experiences of employing consumer-providers in the VA. Psychiatr Serv. 2008;59(11):1315–21. https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2008.59.11.1315.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Choi J, Medalia A. Factors associated with a positive response to cognitive remediation in a community psychiatric sample. Psychiatr Serv. 2005;56(5):602–4. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.56.5.602.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Choi J, Medalia A. Intrinsic motivation and learning in a schizophrenia spectrum sample. Schizophr Res. 2010;118(1–3):12–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2009.08.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Contreras NA, Lee S, Tan EJ, Castle DJ, Rossell SL. How is cognitive remediation training perceived by people with schizophrenia? A qualitative study examining personal experiences. J Mental Health. 2016;25(3):260–6. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638237.2016.1167856.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Dixon LB, Holoshitz Y, Nossel I. Treatment engagement of individuals experiencing mental illness: review and update. World Psychiatry. 2016;15(1):13–20. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20306.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Drapalski AL, Leith J, Dixon L. Involving families in the care of persons with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses: history, evidence, and recommendations. Clin Schizophr Relat Psychoses. 2009;3(1):39–49. https://doi.org/10.3371/CSRP.3.1.4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Eack SM, Greenwald DP, Hogarty SS, Cooley SJ, DiBarry AL, Montrose DM, et al. Cognitive enhancement therapy for early-course schizophrenia: effects of a two-year randomized controlled trial. Psychiatr Serv. 2009;60(11):1468–76. https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2009.60.11.1468.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Eack SM, Hogarty GE, Greenwald DP, Hogarty SS, Keshavan MS. Cognitive enhancement therapy improves emotional intelligence in early course schizophrenia: preliminary effects. Schizophr Res. 2007;89(1–3):308–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2006.08.018.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Eack SM, Hogarty GE, Greenwald DP, Hogarty SS, Keshavan MS. Effects of cognitive enhancement therapy on employment outcomes in early schizophrenia: results from a 2-year randomized trial. Res Soc Work Pract. 2011;21(1):32–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731509355812.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Eack SM, Hogarty SS, Greenwald DP, Litschge MY, McKnight SAF, Bangalore SS, et al. Cognitive enhancement therapy in substance misusing schizophrenia: results of an 18-month feasibility trial. Schizophr Res. 2015;161(2–3):478–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2014.11.017.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Eack SM, Mesholam-Gately RI, Greenwald DP, Hogarty SS, Keshavan MS. Negative symptom improvement during cognitive rehabilitation: results from a 2-year trial of cognitive enhancement therapy. Psychiatry Res. 2013;209(1):21–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2013.03.020.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Eack SM, Pogue-Geile MF, Greenwald DP, Hogarty SS, Keshavan MS. Mechanisms of functional improvement in a 2-year trial of cognitive enhancement therapy for early schizophrenia. Psychol Med. 2011;41(6):1253–61. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329171000176.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Faith LA, Collins JO, Decker J, Grove A, Jarvis SP, Rempfer MV. Experiences of empowerment in a community cognitive enhancement therapy program: an exploratory qualitative study. Psychosis. 2019;11(4):319–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2019.1632920.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Fereday J, Muir-Cochrane E. Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. Int J Qual Methods. 2006;5(1):80–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940690600500107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Glenthøj LB, Hjorthøj C, Kristensen TD, Davidson CA, Nordentoft M. The effect of cognitive remediation in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis: a systematic review. Npj Schizophr. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-017-0021-9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Grant N, Lawrence M, Preti A, Wykes T, Cella M. Social cognition interventions for people with schizophrenia: a systematic review focussing on methodological quality and intervention modality. Clin Psychol Rev. 2017;56:55–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2017.06.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Green MF, Nuechterlein KH, Gold JM, Barch DM, Cohen J, Essock S, Fenton WS, Frese F, Goldberg TE, Heaton RK, Keefe RS, Marder SR. Approaching a consensus cognitive battery for clinical trials in schizophrenia: the NIMH-MATRICS conference to select cognitive domains and test criteria. Biol Psychiat. 2004;56(5):301–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.06.023.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Hansen MC, Jones BD, Eack SM, Glenthøj LB, Ikezawa S, Iwane T, et al. Validation of the MUSIC Model of Motivation Inventory for use with cognitive training for schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a multinational study. Schizophr Res. 2019;206:142–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2018.11.037.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Harvey PD, Strassnig MT, Silberstein J. Prediction of disability in schizophrenia: symptoms, cognition, and self-assessment. J Exp Psychopathol. 2019;10(3):2043808719865693. https://doi.org/10.1177/2043808719865693.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Hogarty GE, Flesher S. Developmental theory for a cognitive enhancement therapy of schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull. 1999;25(4):677–92. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.schbul.a033410.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Hogarty GE, Flesher S. Practice principles of cognitive enhancement therapy for schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull. 1999;25(4):693–708. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.schbul.a033411.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Hogarty GE, Greenwald DP. Cognitive enhancement therapy: the training manual. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hogarty GE, Flesher S, Ulrich R, Carter M, Greenwald D, Pogue-Geile M, et al. Cognitive enhancement therapy for schizophrenia: effects of a 2-year randomized trial on cognition and behavior. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61(9):866–76. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.61.9.866.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Hogarty GE, Greenwald DP, Eack SM. Durability and mechanism of effects of cognitive enhancement therapy. Psychiatr Serv. 2006;57(12):1751–7. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.57.12.1751.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Johnson I, Tabbane K, Dellagi L, Kebir O. Self-perceived cognitive functioning does not correlate with objective measures of cognition in schizophrenia. Compr Psychiatry. 2011;52(6):688–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.12.008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Kambeitz-Ilankovic L, Betz LT, Dominke C, Haas SS, Subramaniam K, Fisher M, et al. Multi-outcome meta-analysis (MOMA) of cognitive remediation in schizophrenia: revisiting the relevance of human coaching and elucidating interplay between multiple outcomes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019;107:828–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.03.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Kelly S, Guimond S, Lyall A, Stone WS, Shenton ME, Keshavan M, et al. Neural correlates of cognitive deficits across developmental phases of schizophrenia. Neurobiol Disease. 2019;131:104353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2018.12.013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Li P, Snyder GL, Vanover KE. Dopamine targeting drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia: past, present and future. Curr Top Med Chem. 2016;16(29):3385–403. https://doi.org/10.2174/1568026616666160608084834.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Medalia A, Richardson R. What predicts a good response to cognitive remediation interventions? Schizophr Bull. 2005;31(4):942–53. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbi045.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Medalia A, Saperstein A. Cognitive remediation to improve functional outcome. In: Badcock J, Paulik G (editors) A clinical introduction to psychosis. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2020, p. 395–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-815012-2.00017-1.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  44. Medalia A, Thysen J, Freilich B. Do people with schizophrenia who have objective cognitive impairment identify cognitive deficits on a self report measure? Schizophr Res. 2008;105(1–3):156–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2008.07.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Miles MB, Huberman AM. Analyse des données qualitatives. Paris: De Boeck Supérieur; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Miles MB, Huberman AM. Qualitative data analysis: an expanded sourcebook. Sage: Sage Publications Inc; 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Moran G, Mashiach-Eizenberg M, Roe D, Berman Y, Shalev A, Kaplan Z, et al. Investigating the anatomy of the helping relationship in the context of psychiatric rehabilitation: the relation between working alliance, providers’ recovery competencies and personal recovery. Psychiatry Res. 2014;220(1–2):592–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2014.08.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Moritz S, Klein JP, Desler T, Lill H, Gallinat J, Schneider BC. Neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Are we making mountains out of molehills? Psychol Med. 2017;47(15):2602–12. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291717000939.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Peyroux E, Franck N. RC2S: a cognitive remediation program to improve social cognition in schizophrenia and related disorders. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00400.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Reeder C, Pile V, Crawford P, Cella M, Rose D, Wykes T, et al. The feasibility and acceptability to service users of CIRCuiTS, a computerized cognitive remediation therapy programme for schizophrenia. Behav Cognit Psychother. 2016;44(3):288–305. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465815000168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Roosenschoon BJ, Kamperman AM, Deen ML, Van Weeghel J, Mulder CL. Determinants of clinical, functional and personal recovery for people with schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses: a cross-sectional analysis. PLoS ONE. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222378.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Rose D, Wykes T, Farrier D, Doran AM, Sporle T, Bogner D. What so clients think of cognitive remediation therapy?: a consumer-led investigation of satisfaction and side effects. Am J Psychiatr Rehabil. 2008;11(2):181–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/15487760801963694.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Sandoval LR, González BL, Stone WS, Guimond S, Rivas CT, Sheynberg D, et al. Effects of peer social interaction on performance during computerized cognitive remediation therapy in patients with early course schizophrenia: a pilot study. Schizophr Res. 2019;203:17–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2017.08.049.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Saperstein AM, Kurtz MM. Current trends in the empirical study of cognitive remediation for schizophrenia. Can J Psychiat. 2013;58(6):311–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674371305800602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Saperstein AM, Medalia A. The role of motivation in cognitive remediation for people with schizophrenia. Curr Topics Behav Neurosci. 2016;27:533–46. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2015_373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Shin YJ, Joo YH, Kim JH. Self-perceived cognitive deficits and their relationship with internalized stigma and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. Neuropsychiatr Disease Treat. 2016;12:1411–7. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S108537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Treichler EBH, Thomas ML, Bismark AW, Hochberger WC, Tarasenko M, Nungaray J, et al. Divergence of subjective and performance-based cognitive gains following cognitive training in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2019;210:215–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2018.12.034.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  58. Tsapakis EM, Dimopoulou T, Tarazi FI. Clinical management of negative symptoms of schizophrenia: an update. Pharmacol Ther. 2015;153:135–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.06.008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Vansteenkiste M, Simons J, Lens W, Sheldon KM, Deci EL. Motivating learning, performance, and persistence: the synergistic effects of intrinsic goal contents and autonomy-supportive contexts. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2004;87(2):246–60. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.87.2.246.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. WHOQOL Group. The WHOQL assessment instrument: development and general psychometric properties. Soc Sci Med. 1998;46:1585–96.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Wojtalik JA, Mesholam-Gately R, Hogarty SS, Sandoval LR, Guimond S, Keshavan MS, et al. Confirmatory efficacy of cognitive enhancement therapy for early course schizophrenia: results from a multi-site randomized controlled trial. Psychiatr Serv. 2009. (in revision)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Wykes T, Huddy V, Cellard C, McGurk SR, Czobor P. A meta-analysis of cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: methodology and effect sizes. Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(5):472–85. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10060855.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all participants who took part in the study, as well as Hassan Khan for his help with the preliminary analysis and Dr. Kristelle Alunni-Minichini for her guidance with the qualitative analyses.

Funding

This work was funded by an operating Grant from NIMH MH 92440; MSK, PI, Clinicatrials.gov #NCT01561859). SG was supported by a postdoctoral training fellowship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé and by an Emerging Research Innovators in Mental Health award.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

SG and MSK designed the study, and SG oversaw every step of the study. LS helped with the development of the focus group and the interview guide. SG, SP, and LO collected the data. LO and ST transcribed all verbatim. CN, FG and SG performed the analyses. CN wrote the first draft of the manuscript, helped by AT and PP. LS, JW, and MSK also provided valuable expertise on cognitive enhancement therapy throughout the study. All authors contributed to the writing and approval of the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matcheri S. Keshavan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 53 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Noël, C., Gu, F., Ormston, L. et al. Cognitive Enhancement Therapy in Early Schizophrenia: A Qualitative and Quantitative Case Series of Patients’ Experiences. J. Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health 8, 109–123 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-020-00204-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-020-00204-6

Keywords

Navigation