ABSTRACT
Cognitive impairment is considered one of the major reasons that people with schizophrenia have difficulty functioning in everyday life (Green, 1996). In fact, cognitive dysfunction is even more predictive of functional impairment than positive symptoms. Impairments in attention, memory, processing speed, and problem-solving ability are commonly seen in patients with schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol and substance abuse (Medalia, Revheim, & Herlands, 2009). While the severity and profile of these deficits varies depending on factors like diagnosis, course of illness, and social-environmental factors, it has been estimated that more than 80% of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders score below 84% of the general population on cognitive tests (Keefe & Fenton, 2007). These cognitive deficits are persistent and not simply related to an episode of illness. Even when the person is psychiatrically stable, cognitive impairment is evident.
