시공간 재활훈련이 조현병 환자의 시공간 기능과 주의에 미치는 효과

This study investigated the effect of visuospatial rehabilitation on the cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. Forty-three patients with schizophrenia were randomly assigned into one of the three groups (rehabilitation, comparative, and control groups). The comprehensive neuropsychological tests including Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure Test (RCFT), Block Design, Puzzle, Korea-California Verbal Learning Test (K-CVLT), Stroop test, Digit Span, Spatial Span, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were administered before and after rehabilitation for the three groups. In addition, schizophrenic symptoms and social function were measured by PANSS, and BASIS-32, respectively. Participants in the rehabilitation group received individual visuospatial rehabilitation three times a week for a 6 weeks durations, and the comparative group received the individual tetris game three times a week for a 6 weeks durations; the control group did not receive any treatment. The three groups did not differ on the performances of the neuropsychological tests, PANSS, and BASIS-32, which were administered before rehabilitation. However, the rehabilitation group showed significantly better performances on RCFT copy condition, Digit Span forward condition, color-word condition of the Stroop test, and PANSS negative symptom than the comparative and control groups after rehabilitation. These findings suggest that visuospatial rehabilitation is effective in improving visuospatial function, attention, and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.