Presentation Information
[SY-8-02]Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia; How can we facilitate its awareness and management in clinical practice?
*Tomiki Sumiyoshi1, Ayumu Wada1, Chika Sumiyoshi2, Naoki Yoshimura3, Risa Yamada1, Kazuyuki Nakagome4 (1.Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (Japan), 2.Faculty of Human Development and Culture, Fukushima University(Japan), 3.Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry(Japan), 4.President Office, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry(Japan))
Keywords:
Schizophrenia,Cognitive function,Cognition,Assessment,Intervention
Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (CIS) is present in most patients with schizophrenia and predicts poor functional outcomes. However, little information has been available on whether psychiatrists' awareness of CIS affects their style of disease management, or whether patients' awareness of CIS has an impact on related burdens. Therefore, we conducted a large-scale online survey to investigate the awareness and management of CIS among psychiatrists and patients in Japan (Sumiyoshi et al. Schizophr Res Cogn 2025). In that study, approximately two-thirds of patients experienced disturbances of cognitive domains, including attention/processing speed and working memory. Accordingly, psychiatrists regarded that addressing CIS can most effectively facilitate reintegration of patients into society. However, only a small proportion of these patients were assessed with appropriate instruments or received interventions for CIS.
As the assessment of CIS in routine clinical practice is likely to be hindered by time constraints, we tried to develop cognitive measures that effectively reflect functionality of patients but only require a shorter time than existing assessment tools. We focused on language-related symptoms stemming from semantic memory disorganization in patients with schizophrenia. Specifically, we utilized advanced automated scoring techniques to quantify individual-specific semantic memory parameters from the category fluency test, a conventional test of verbal fluency that only requires one minute to administer. The results suggest higher semantic memory parameters were associated with better social functioning scores (Wada et al. Schizophrenia 2025).
A struggle to develop cognitive enhances is represented by a meta-analysis of the effect of augmentation therapy with serotonin1A receptor partial agonists, e.g. buspirone, on CIS (Yamada et al. IJNP 2023). Based on data from randomized, controlled trials in Asian and/or Pacific Rim countries, the add-on therapy was found to significantly improve attention/processing speed. Overall, these efforts will facilitate the management of CIS and promote social inclusion of patients with schizophrenia.
As the assessment of CIS in routine clinical practice is likely to be hindered by time constraints, we tried to develop cognitive measures that effectively reflect functionality of patients but only require a shorter time than existing assessment tools. We focused on language-related symptoms stemming from semantic memory disorganization in patients with schizophrenia. Specifically, we utilized advanced automated scoring techniques to quantify individual-specific semantic memory parameters from the category fluency test, a conventional test of verbal fluency that only requires one minute to administer. The results suggest higher semantic memory parameters were associated with better social functioning scores (Wada et al. Schizophrenia 2025).
A struggle to develop cognitive enhances is represented by a meta-analysis of the effect of augmentation therapy with serotonin1A receptor partial agonists, e.g. buspirone, on CIS (Yamada et al. IJNP 2023). Based on data from randomized, controlled trials in Asian and/or Pacific Rim countries, the add-on therapy was found to significantly improve attention/processing speed. Overall, these efforts will facilitate the management of CIS and promote social inclusion of patients with schizophrenia.