Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy INT for schizophrenia patients
Abstract
Conference Workshop: Cognitive dysfunction is one of the main difficulties in the reintegration of schizophrenic patients, which generally limits intervention options and therapeutic approaches. Cognitive Remediation (CR) is a disorder-specific psychotherapeutic intervention that focuses on cognitive functional deficits and is now considered to be evidence-based. To date, Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy (INT) is the only approach that combines interventions for all 11 schizophrenia-relevant neurocognitive and social-cognitive functional areas (e.g., attention, working memory, emotion processing, ToM), initially defined by the NIMH-MATRICS initiative in a comprehensive therapeutic rationale. INT is a further development of the world-renowned Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT), which was also developed in our lab. INT is a cognitive-behavioral group therapy approach and is divided into 4 modules, each with a neurocognitive and social-cognitive area. Each functional area follows the same sequence, starting with an introduction to the target area (definition of the relevant cognition and inclusion of the patient's everyday life through stringent reference to everyday life and self-reference), followed by a compensation part (developing and trying out individual coping strategies), a restitution part (repeated training of the selected individual strategies) and an in vivo part (trying out the learned strategies in everyday life and discussing difficulties afterwards). In the restitution part, the individual strategies are practiced in group exercises and additionally using a PC program according to the errorless learning principle. Stress management and emotion regulation training in the last module concludes the group process. INT combines compensation and restitution learning strategies typical of CR approaches with psychoeducation and CBTp techniques to create a broad integrative therapeutic approach.
After this introduction, the focus will be on trying out exemplary INT techniques in plenary sessions and in small groups under supervision. The participants are given an overview of the treatment process, the use of available materials as well as structuring, activating and linking the therapy group members in the therapeutic process.
Finally, the purpose and limitations of the INT intervention and evidence of its effectiveness will be discussed: INT has been widely evaluated in an international multicenter study and other follow-up studies INT in inpatient and out-patient settings. As expected, proximal effects in cognitive functions were demonstrated compared to TAU and other active approaches. In contrast, the distal effects in social functioning and negative symptoms in a 1-year follow-up were astonishing. INT also proved to be protective against relapse and rehospitalization for up to 8 years, resulting in considerable savings in psychiatric treatment costs
After this introduction, the focus will be on trying out exemplary INT techniques in plenary sessions and in small groups under supervision. The participants are given an overview of the treatment process, the use of available materials as well as structuring, activating and linking the therapy group members in the therapeutic process.
Finally, the purpose and limitations of the INT intervention and evidence of its effectiveness will be discussed: INT has been widely evaluated in an international multicenter study and other follow-up studies INT in inpatient and out-patient settings. As expected, proximal effects in cognitive functions were demonstrated compared to TAU and other active approaches. In contrast, the distal effects in social functioning and negative symptoms in a 1-year follow-up were astonishing. INT also proved to be protective against relapse and rehospitalization for up to 8 years, resulting in considerable savings in psychiatric treatment costs
Date Issued
2025-09-12
Publication Type
Conference Item
Subjects
Psychosis
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RCT
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Cognitive Remediation
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INT
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Efficacy
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Effectiveness
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Costs
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group psychotherapy
Language(s)
en
Title of Event
Access(Rights)
metadata.only