Exploring the role of age as a moderator of cognitive remediation for people with schizophrenia.

Background: While Cognitive Remediation (CR) is effective in reducing cognitive and functioning difficulties in people with schizophrenia, there is variability in treatment response. Previous research suggested that participants' age may be a significant moderator of CR response.

Aim: To examine the impact of participants' age on CR outcomes.

Can Cognitive Remediation in Groups Prevent Relapses?: Results of a 1-Year Follow-up Randomized Controlled Trial.

International guidelines define relapse prevention for schizophrenia patients as a key therapeutic aim. However, approximately 80% to 90% of schizophrenia patients experience further symptom exacerbation after the first episode. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether group integrated neurocognitive therapy (INT), a cognitive remediation approach, reduces relapse rates in schizophrenia outpatients.

Does Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy (INT) reduce severe negative symptoms in schizophrenia outpatients?

Negative symptoms often inhibit the social integration of people suffering from schizophrenia. Reducing severe negative symptoms (SNS) in a clinically relevant way is a major unmet need. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy (INT), a group cognitive remediation therapy (CRT), reduces SNS in schizophrenia outpatients.

One-year randomized controlled trial and follow-up of integrated neurocognitive therapy for schizophrenia outpatients.

Objective: Cognitive remediation (CR) approaches have demonstrated to be effective in improving cognitive functions in schizophrenia. However, there is a lack of integrated CR approaches that target multiple neuro- and social-cognitive domains with a special focus on the generalization of therapy effects to functional outcome.

Method: This 8-site randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a novel CR group therapy approach called integrated neurocognitive therapy (INT).

Integrated psychological therapy: effectiveness in schizophrenia inpatient settings related to patients' age.

Objective: Elderly people with schizophrenia often suffer from cognitive impairments, which affect their social functioning. Today, only a few therapy approaches for middle-aged and older patients are available. The Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT) combines neurocognitive and social cognitive interventions with social skills approaches.

[Efficacy of integrated treatments for schizophrenia patients].

This article outlines two examples of cognitive-behavior group therapy approaches for an integrative treatment of psychosis: the Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT) and the Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy (INT). We present their theoretical background, content and conceptualization as well as recent empirical evidence for their efficacy. The article concludes that adapting these approaches to early intervention for people with high risk of psychosis seems promising.

Effectiveness of the cognitive differentiation program of the integrated psychological therapy: group versus individual treatment.

The aim of the current pilot study was to compare two strategies in the application of the cognitive differentiation program of Integrated Psychological Therapy for people with schizophrenia. Twenty-six outpatients were randomly assigned to the application of the program in group sessions (CDg), or to its application in individualized sessions (CDi). The program provides cognitive exercises to promote better performance in cognition, and both groups of participants completed the same number of exercises following the same number of sessions per week.

Effectiveness of integrated psychological therapy (IPT) for schizophrenia patients: a research update.

Standardized recovery criteria go beyond symptom remission and put special emphasis on personal and social functioning in residence, work, and leisure. Against this background, evidence-based integrated approaches combining cognitive remediation with social skills therapy show promise for improving functional recovery of schizophrenia patients. Over the past 30 years, research groups in 12 countries have evaluated integrated psychological therapy (IPT) in 36 independent studies.

Social cognition as a mediator variable between neurocognition and functional outcome in schizophrenia: empirical review and new results by structural equation modeling.

Cognitive impairments are currently regarded as important determinants of functional domains and are promising treatment goals in schizophrenia. Nevertheless, the exact nature of the interdependent relationship between neurocognition and social cognition as well as the relative contribution of each of these factors to adequate functioning remains unclear. The purpose of this article is to systematically review the findings and methodology of studies that have investigated social cognition as a mediator variable between neurocognitive performance and functional outcome in schizophrenia.

[Emotion activation in personality disorders].

There are at least six psychotherapeutic treatments of personality disorders having received empirical and clinical validation in terms of their efficacy. These treatments are based on different theoretical models, namely the cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic and interpersonal models. This article briefly presents these treatments, focusing on the process of therapeutic change.

[Evaluation of the "Schema-focused Emotive Behavioural Therapy" (SET) for patients with personality disorders: results of a randomised controlled trial].

The "Schema-focussed Emotive Behavioral Therapy" (SET) was developed by our research group as a new group therapy approach for patients with personality disorders from all clusters (A to C; DSM-IV). It was evaluated in a randomised controlled study (n = 93). Data were collected before and after treatment as well as one year after study entry.

Integrated psychological therapy (IPT) for schizophrenia: is it effective?

Against the background of evidence-based treatments for schizophrenia, nowadays the implementation of specific cognitive and behavioral interventions becomes more important in the standard care of these patients. Over the past 25 years, research groups in 9 countries have carried out 30 independent evaluations of Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT), a group program that combines neurocognitive and social cognitive interventions with social skills approaches for schizophrenic patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of IPT under varying treatment and research conditions in academic and nonacademic sites.