Examining the content validity of the Comprehensive Assessment of Functioning for Mental Illness-Subjective Version (CAMI-S) with reference to the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF).

Aim: To support the achievement of life goals and social participation of persons with mental illness, based on the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), we generated items, identified domains, and examined the content validity of the Comprehensive Assessment of Functioning for Mental Illness-Subjective Version (CAMI-S). The purpose was to assess patients' strengths and weaknesses by incorporating the patient and public involvement perspective.

Methods: Focus group interviews on the items to be included were conducted with Group A.

Characteristic association of symbol coding test score with occupational function in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

Aim: Studies showed that cognitive function affects occupational function in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to determine the effects of cognitive function on occupational function in Japanese patients with schizophrenia using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS).

Methods: Participants were 198 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (66 females; mean age 34.

A preliminary study on predictors of treatment response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with treatment-resistant depression in Japan.

Background: Brain imaging studies have reported that the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is associated with the activities of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and ventral medial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC). However, few studies have been conducted in Japanese patients.

Aim: We aimed to identify brain regions associated with depressive symptom changes by measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the DLPFC and VMPFC before and after the high-frequency rTMS to the left DLPFC in Japanese patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Utility of VSRAD for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in patients screened for dementia.

Objective: To investigate the utility of the voxel-based specific regional analysis system for Alzheimer’s disease (VSRAD).

Methods: Clinical data from patients who underwent screening for dementia using VSRAD and the Japanese version of COGNISTAT, the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination, were retrospectively investigated to specify the domains of cognitive function that correlate with the statistical mean value of positive Z-scores in the target volume-of-interest (VOI). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to assess the mean value of positive Z-scores in discriminating patients with AD.

The Feasibility and Efficacy of Social Cognition and Interaction Training for Outpatients With Schizophrenia in Japan: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

Schizophrenia is a disabling illness. Social cognition and interaction training (SCIT) seeks to improve patients' social functioning by alleviating deficits in social cognition. SCIT has shown promise in improving social cognition in patients with schizophrenia, but has not yet been studied in Japan.

A case of methamphetamine use disorder presenting a condition of ultra-rapid cycler bipolar disorder.

Methamphetamine, a potent psychostimulant, may cause a condition of mood disorder among users. However, arguments concerning methamphetamine-induced mood disorder remain insufficient. This case study describes a male with methamphetamine-induced bipolar disorder not accompanied by psychotic symptoms, who twice in an 11-year treatment period, manifested an ultra-rapid cycler condition alternating between manic and depressive mood states with 3- to 7-day durations for each.

Computer-assisted cognitive remediation therapy increases hippocampal volume in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) effectively reduces neurocognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia, but few studies have used structural neuroimaging methods to assess its neuroanatomical effects. We investigated these effects, as well as the association between changes in cortical volume and neurocognitive performance.

Method: Between August 2013 and September 2016, we performed a randomized controlled study comprising a CRT group (16 individuals) and a treatment-as-usual (TAU) group (15 individuals) of patients with schizophrenia.

Effects of cognitive remediation on cognitive and social functions in individuals with schizophrenia.

Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit cognitive impairments, which are related to impairments in social functions. This study investigated the effects of cognitive remediation on cognitive, social, and daily living impairment. Participants were individuals with schizophrenia between 20 and 60 years old ( = 44).

Efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation using computer software with individuals living with schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial in Japan.

Objective: Cognitive impairment is common in schizophrenia, and is associated with poor psychosocial functioning. Previous studies had inconsistently shown improvement in cognitive functions with cognitive remediation therapy. This study examined whether cognitive remediation is effective in improving both cognitive and social functions in schizophrenia in outpatient settings that provide learning-based psychiatric rehabilitation.

Does improvement of cognitive functioning by cognitive remediation therapy effect work outcomes in severe mental illness? A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The aim of this study was to clarify whether improvement of cognitive functioning by cognitive remediation therapy can improve work outcome in schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses when combined with supported employment.

Methods: The subjects of this study were persons with severe mental illness diagnosed with schizophrenia, major depression, or bipolar disorder (ICD-10) and cognitive dysfunction who participated in both cognitive remediation using the Thinking Skills for Work program and a supported employment program in a multisite, randomized controlled study. Logistic and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to clarify the influence of cognitive functioning on vocational outcomes, adjusting for demographic and clinical variables.

Feasibility and effectiveness of a cognitive remediation programme with original computerised cognitive training and group intervention for schizophrenia: a multicentre randomised trial.

Devising new methods to improve neurocognitive impairment through cognitive remediation is an important research goal. We developed an original computer programme termed the Japanese Cognitive Rehabilitation Programme for Schizophrenia (JCORES) that provides cognitive practice across a broad range of abilities. The current study examined for the first time whether a cognitive remediation programme, including both computerised cognitive training using JCORES and group intervention such as enhancing meta-cognition and teaching strategies, is more effective than treatment as usual for improving neurocognitive and social functioning.

[Supporting the Love, Marriage, and Child-Rearing of Persons with Schizophrenia].

Persons with schizophrenia and their families have strong interests and hopes for love, marriage, pregnancy, and child-rearing. These experiences often lead to recovery from schizophrenia. There are many partners with schizophrenia who enjoy fruitful lives even with their disability.

[The Role of Psychiatrists as Personal Support Specialists].

Robert P. Liberman introduced "Personal Support Specialists" as a role of psychiatrists who support patients' lives and help them discover the meaning of life, as well as helping with daily activities and personal difficulties. They need to have multiple perspectives on medical, subjective, social, and life recoveries.

[Negative Symptoms Revisited--Toward the Recovery of Persons with Schizophrenia].

The negative symptoms of schizophrenia are usually treatment-refractory, and considered to be a major cause of a poor outcome. Recently, it has become an important issue to elucidate the etiology of and develop treatment for negative symptoms in order to improve the outcome of schizophrenia patients. Firstly, the history of negative symptoms was reviewed.

Facial expression perception correlates with verbal working memory function in schizophrenia.

Aims: Facial emotion perception is considered to provide a measure of social cognition. Numerous studies have examined the perception of emotion in patients with schizophrenia, and the majority has reported impaired ability to recognize facial emotion perception. We aimed to investigate the correlation between facial expression recognition and other domains of social cognition and neurocognition in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

New instrument for measuring multiple domains of social cognition: construct validity of the Social Cognition Screening Questionnaire (Japanese version).

Aim: The present study aimed to test the construct validity and internal consistency of the Social Cognition Screening Questionnaire (SCSQ) (Japanese version).

Methods: We first tested whether the subscale scores and the total score of the SCSQ could discriminate patients with schizophrenia from normal controls. Next, we tested the internal consistency.

Effects of risperidone and aripiprazole on neurocognitive rehabilitation for schizophrenia.

Aim: Methods to improve neurocognitive impairments are of important research interest. This study sought to examine the synergistic effects of neurocognitive rehabilitation and antipsychotics for schizophrenia.

Methods: Subjects were 43 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in a randomized trial of the effects of neurocognitive rehabilitation or a quasi-randomized experimental trial of supported employment with neurocognitive rehabilitation.

Neurocognitive functioning in patients with first-episode schizophrenia 1 year from onset in comparison with patients 5 years from onset.

Objective: The course of neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia has not yet been established. Therefore, we followed patients with first-episode schizophrenia to verify the course of these deficits.

Methods: In Study 1, tests of neurocognitive functioning were administered to patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FE group) every 6 months.

[How is social functioning of schizophrenics measured?].

Measuring social functioning of schizophrenics is becoming an important clinical issue in the era of community care, where persons with mental illness can live in the community. Neuro- and social-cognitive function studies on the outcome of schizophrenia focus on researching brain functioning, and social functioning is a co-primary outcome measure of intervention. In this review, the viewpoint of measuring social functioning is clarified, typical and recommended assessment scales are introduced, methods to be developed for measurement are discussed, and how to measure social functioning in clinical and research settings is summarized.

The effects of the combination of cognitive training and supported employment on improving clinical and working outcomes for people with schizophrenia in Japan.

Background: In Japan, Job assistance for SMI have been not active. Compared with mental retardation, employment rate of SMI was low. The needs of the effective job assistance for SMI are growing.

Effects of psychosocial program for preparing long-term hospitalized patients with schizophrenia for discharge from hospital: randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The aims of the present study were to revise the Community Re-entry Program-Japanese version and to review the effectiveness of the revised Program, named the Discharge Preparation Program.

Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. The Discharge Preparation Program (DPP) was the intervention condition (n = 26), and the usual rehabilitation program was the control condition (n = 23).

[Social cognition of schizophrenia: bridging gap between brain science and psychosocial intervention].

The concept and assessment tools for social cognition of schizophrenia were reviewed in order to bridge the gap between brain cognitive science and psycho-social intervention. Social cognition as well as neuro-cognition strongly influences social functioning, and the impact of neuro-cognition is mediated by social cognition. Neuronal networks of personal identification, facial perception, emotional identification, eye contact, "theory of mind", mutual communication, and the decision-making process have been clarified recently.

[The intermediate and long-term supports for the suffered places of the Higashi-Nihon Huge earthquake. From the point of view of the community living and psychiatric rehabilitation].

The intermediate and long-term supports for suffered places of the Higashi-Nihon Huge Earthquake were discussed from the viewpoint of the community living and psychiatric rehabilitation. It might be useful to prevent from exacerbation of psychiatric disorders that gathering information, communication skills, relation with neighborhood, and joining training for disaster defense, and so on are acquired by persons with psychiatric disorders in the community living. If persons with psychiatric disorders are cared as disabled against disaster without empowering them with these skills, they cannot contribute to new society after disaster and worse estrangement from the society might appear.