Aims: The present study aims to evaluate the outcome of two different approach in rehabilitation: IPT Cognitive Training (Brenner's) administered in conjunction with Treatment As Usual (TAU) versus TAU as a sole intervention, on cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and executive functioning in a sample of participants with a diagnosis of a Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder. Levels of problem-solving have been highlighted in participants not only in relation to the method used but also to the age, between 17-30 years with 1-3 years of mental illness and participants who are 30+ years with over 9 years of mental illness.
Method: 77 participants completed the study and were matched according to diagnosis and severity of illness. 37 subjects (48%) received TAU and 40 subjects (52%) received IPT Cognitive Training+TAU. Each group have participants aged between 17-30 years with 1-3 years of mental illness and 30+ years with over 9 years of mental illness. A Neuropsychological Protocol particularly made allow assessments and was administered pre-intervention and 24 months post-intervention.
Results and conclusions: Participants who received Cognitive Training IPT+TAU showed statistically significant improvements in Selective Attention (p < 0.05) instead of the others with only TAU. By both method significant improvements were also found in all considered outcome variables (p = 0.04-0.001) on working memory, short and long-term memory, semantic memory and logical-deductive ability. Neither rehabilitation treatment produced any improvement in problem solving once compromised. Logical-Deductive Ability showed improvements only in patients aged between 17-30 years with 1-3 years of mental illness in comparison with participants aged over 30 years with 9 or more years of illness.