Would the inclusion of cognitive assessments in the evaluation of schizophrenic patients facilitate treatment planning?
Dr. Keefe: I think so. In my experience, psychiatrists rarely consider cognitive function in their evaluation of patients with schizophrenia. Including cognitive impairment in the criteria for schizophrenia may increase psychiatrists’ attention toward a core component of the disorder that is the largest determinant of long-term functioning. Since cognitive impairment is also rarely considered as an important treatment target, its inclusion in the diagnosis may help to educate clinicians about the importance of cognition in their treatment options. Furthermore, representatives from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have indicated that the recognition of cognitive impairment in the diagnostic nomenclature would be an important step in approving a drug for a cognitive improvement indication for patients with schizophrenia. A large number of pharmaceutical companies and government agencies are involved in intense work to develop compounds that may improve cognition with schizophren
