About the Treatments

Project Summary

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) and Social Skills Training (SST) are evidence-based interventions that improve community functioning of persons with schizophrenia-spectrum illness.

What we know:

  • Schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders are highly disabling.

  • Drug treatments do not improve cognitive and social functioning.

  • Psychosocial rehabilitation improves social functioning.

    • Gains in community functioning may also occur

    • Social Skills Training (SST) is efficacious

  • Cognitive remediation improves cognitive functioning

    • Gains in social and community functioning may also occur

    • Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) is efficacious

 

What we need to learn:

  • Is CET more effective than SST in improving community functioning?

  • Do some patients benefit more from one of the two treatments?

Why now?

Effective psychosocial interventions are not widely disseminated in community settings despite social and cognitive deficits in SZ-spectrum illness and the value of these treatments. Patients, providers and policymakers do not know the relative benefits of remediating social and cognitive deficits or the extent to which an integrated treatment including cognitive remediation is optimal for those with SZ spectrum illness or for particular subgroups.

About CET

About SST