SEMINAR



DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY

SEMINAR SERIES

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

12:00pm – Room 444B

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Dawn I. Velligan, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Psychiatry

UT Health San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas

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Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia, its Functional Consequences, and What Can be Done

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by significant impairments in cognition and poor functional outcomes. While earliest descriptions of schizophrenia by Kraepelin emphasized cognitive decline; the more dynamic positive symptoms of psychosis have traditionally been the focus of treatment.  Cognitive impairments are often present well before the onset of positive and negative symptoms and are present in an estimated 80% of all individuals with the diagnosis.  Domains of impairment include processing speed, attention/vigilance; working memory, learning and executive functions.  Cognition is one of the strongest determinants of community functioning in this population. Functional outcomes for individuals with the disorder are apparent across multiple role behaviors.  Independent living skills such as self-care, bill paying, and upkeep of living quarters are impaired.  Individuals with schizophrenia achieve lower educational levels than would be expected by socioeconomic status and other demographic variables and rates of competitive employment are under 20%.  In fact, according to the World Health Organization, schizophrenia is one of the top 5 disabling conditions in young adults. The development of pharmacological treatments for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (CIAS) has produced mostly disappointing results to date and has not led to any FDA approved treatments for CIAS. This may call into question the relevance of current rodent models for CIAS in schizophrenia.  Psychosocial approaches including Cognitive Remediation, an approach using computerized training to improve cognition and Cognitive Adaptation Training, an approach using environmental supports such as signs, checklists and electronic devices to bypass cognitive impairment and cue and sequence adaptive behavior, have shown promise in improving cognition and functional outcomes.  

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For more information, please contact the Department of Pharmacology

Ann Miller at 567-4205 (millera5@uthscsa.edu)

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