Computerized cognitive training shows promise for improving mental health in schizophrenia
image: System Usability Scale mean scores.
Credit: Elahe Fathi Azar; Hooshang Mirzaie; Samaneh Hosseinzadeh; Hojjat Allah Haghgoo.
Schizophrenia is a long-term mental health condition that can cause severe disruptions in thinking, emotions, and daily life. While medication can ease symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, it usually does not improve the problems with memory and thinking that many people experience. Around 80–90% of people with schizophrenia have cognitive difficulties, which can limit their ability to live independently and engage in work or social life.
To explore new ways to tackle this issue, researchers at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences in Tehran, Iran, examined the effect of computerised cognitive training (CCT) in a randomised controlled trial. The study was recently published in General Psychiatry.
The trial enrolled 54 adults with schizophrenia from three psychiatric hospitals. All participants continued their usual treatment, including medication and therapy. They were split into two groups with one group receiving the CCT intervention, while the other played simple computer games that did not target memory or thinking skills.
The training group completed 30 sessions of computer-based tasks over 10 weeks, using structured exercises designed to improve memory, attention, and other mental skills. Researchers measured all participants’ mental health and cognitive abilities before the intervention, immediately after, and three months later.
Compared to the control group, people who did the CCT programme showed better general mental well-being, with significantly lower stress levels reported, which lasted for at least three months. In addition, participants improved their working memory, performing better on tests that measured their ability to hold and use information, such as remembering paired details and managing spatial tasks. However, the training did not lead to promised improvements in anxiety or depression compared to the control group.
According to these results, we can see that computerised brain training might be a useful add-on to help people with schizophrenia manage stress and strengthen memory. The researchers suggest that more intensive or longer training might be needed to see wider improvements. “We believe future research should look at combining cognitive training with real-world skill training and longer follow-up to see if the benefits can be expanded and sustained,” the authors added.