Compensatory cognitive training in the schizophrenia spectrum: A pilot study in an outpatient Mexican sample

Negative symptoms, depression, and cognitive impairments of the schizophrenia spectrum have been associated with difficulties in daily functioning. Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT) has shown positive effects on cognition, negative symptoms, and functioning in this population. The main objective of this pilot study was to analyze the effects of CCT on cognition and functioning in a group schizophrenia spectrum outpatients in Mexico. Twenty-two outpatients were included in the final sample. CCT was delivered in groups once a week for 12 weeks. Cognitive and functional assessments administered pre- and post-treatment included the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST). The results were analyzed as a group with a repeated measure ANOVA to examine the effects of CCT on cognitive and functional outcomes, to calculate the effect size, a partial η² was employed. The analysis found significant change in Working memory (F = 8.87, p = 0.009, η²_p = 0.37) and Processing speed (F = -4.93, p = 0.04, η²_p = 0.24) MCCB indexes, as well as improvement in depression symptom severity (F = 168.5, p = .018, η²_p = 0.6). However, pre-post functioning scores did not show significant change. These results show that CCT had positive effects on cognition and depression severity in a Mexican sample.