JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder associated with neurocognitive deficits that adversely affect daily functioning and impose economic burden. Cognitive rehabilitation interventions, particularly during the early phases of the illness, have been shown to improve cognition, functionality, and quality of life. The Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) program, based on the Mediated Learning Experience and the Structural Cognitive Modifiability theory, has been applied in various disorders, but its applicability in schizophrenia has not yet been clarified. This study aims to investigate the effects of the FIE program on functionality in first-episode schizophrenia, and it has been pre-registered on The Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) under identifier A00951289489. Seventeen patients will be recruited for an open-label intervention, consisting of twice weekly sessions for 10 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be changes in the Goal Achievement Scale score. Maze task performance from the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) battery will serve as a secondary outcome measure, while changes in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores and other MATRICS domains will be analyzed as exploratory outcomes. Assessments will be administered before and after the intervention, with a follow-up at 6 months. This study may establish a protocol for the FIE program, utilizing mediation techniques for individuals in the early stages of schizophrenia, thereby promoting improvement in cognitive skills and functional impairment in daily life.