Developing treatments for impaired cognition in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating of all common brain disorders, exacting a heavy toll on the afflicted and having a tremendous public health impact. Clinical outcome is more strongly predicted by cognitive deficits than psychotic symptoms, with no established treatment for these deficits. In this review, we discuss the status of treatment development for impaired cognition in schizophrenia. These treatments include a range of pharmacological targets within diverse neurotransmitter systems. New technologies, including transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation, and psychological therapies, such as computer-based cognitive training, may also benefit cognition in schizophrenia. Each of these approaches shows promise and their integration may optimize benefits for patients in the future.