NAMI Ask the Expert: Cognition Series Part 2 – Cognitive Enhancement: What the Research Shows OD018

An on-demand video and transcript of the presentation are available here [opens in new tab].

About The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. They are an alliance of more than 650 local Affiliates and 49 State organizations who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education to people with mental illness and their loved ones. Through awareness, advocacy and education, NAMI is committed to building stronger communities and a better future for everyone affected by mental illness.

Course Summary

Practice Level: Intermediate

This course, based on the Ask the Expert webinar series by NAMI, is part 2 of a two part series. It explores the science of cognition in schizophrenia and related mental illnesses, with a focus on neuroplasticity and cognitive enhancement therapy (CET). Dr. Keshavan reviews the nature of cognitive impairments, their impact on daily functioning, and evidence-based approaches to cognitive remediation. He also examines innovative interventions, including exercise, sleep optimization, brain stimulation, and digital tools, while highlighting research outcomes from multiple clinical trials.

The course, with an intended audience of social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors, then presents the clinical relevance of cognitive enhancement strategies for improving client outcomes in recovery-focused care.

Course Format

This course contains a participant guide, practice test, and on-demand video (with a transcript and slide deck of the presentation). When you’re ready, purchase the course by clicking the “Add To Cart” or “Enroll” button. This will let you take the test, complete the course evaluation and receive your certificate for CE credits.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the core cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia and their impact on functional outcomes.
2. Describe the principles of neuroplasticity and how they inform cognitive remediation strategies.
3. Explain the structure and evidence base of cognitive enhancement therapy (CET), including clinical trial outcomes.

Course Syllabus

• Understanding Cognition in Schizophrenia
• Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Functioning
• Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET)
• Future Directions in Cognitive Enhancement

Current References

Altman, R. A. E., Tan, E. J., & Rossell, S. L. (2023). Factors impacting access and engagement of cognitive remediation therapy for people with schizophrenia: A systematic review. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 68(3), 139–151. https://doi.org/10.1177/07067437221129073[opens in new tab]

Au-Yeung, C., Thai, H., Best, M., Bowie, C. R., Guimond, S., Lavigne, K. M., Menon, M., Moritz, S., Piat, M., Sauvé, G., Sousa, A. E., Thibaudeau, E., Woodward, T. S., Lepage, M., & Raucher-Chéné, D. (2025). iCogCA to promote cognitive health through digital group interventions for individuals living with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder: Protocol for a nonrandomized concurrent controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 14(1), e63269. https://doi.org/10.2196/63269 [opens in new tab]

Barlati, S., Deste, G., De Peri, L., Ariu, C., & Vita, A. (2013). Cognitive remediation in schizophrenia: Current status and future perspectives. Schizophrenia Research and Treatment, 2013(1), 156084. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/156084 [opens in new tab]

Bowie, C. R., Bell, M. D., Fiszdon, J. M., Johannesen, J. K., Lindenmayer, J. P., McGurk, S. R., Medalia, A. A., Penadés, R., Saperstein, A. M., Twamley, E. W., Ueland, T., & Wykes, T. (2020). Cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: An expert working group white paper on core techniques. Schizophrenia Research, 215, 49–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.10.047[opens in new tab]

Brady, R. O., Jr., Gonsalvez, I., Lee, I., Ongür, D., Seidman, L. J., Schmahmann, J. D., Eack, S. M., Keshavan, M. S., Pascual-Leone, A., & Halko, M. A. (2019). Cerebellar-prefrontal network connectivity and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 176(7), 512–520. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18040429[opens in new tab]

de Prado-Gordillo, M. N., & López-Silva, P. (2025). Making sense of the 4E cognition turn in mental health research. Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology, 32(2), 131–150. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/ppp.2025.a964179[opens in new tab].

Horan, W. P., Kalali, A., Brannan, S. K., Drevets, W., Leoni, M., Mahableshwarkar, A., Martin, W. J., Rao, S., Reuteman-Fowler, C., Sauder, C., Savitz, A., Singh, J., Tiller, J., Walker, G., Wendland, J. R., & Harvey, P. D. (2025). Towards enhancing drug development methodology to treat cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric conditions: Insights from 2 decades of clinical trials. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 51(2), 262–273. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbae151[opens in new tab]

Eack, S. M., Hogarty, G. E., Cho, R. Y., Prasad, K. M., Greenwald, D. P., Hogarty, S. S., & Keshavan, M. S. (2010). Neuroprotective effects of cognitive enhancement therapy against gray matter loss in early schizophrenia: Results from a 2-year randomized controlled trial. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67(7), 674–682. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.63[opens in new tab]

Eack, S. M., Hogarty, S. S., Greenwald, D. P., Litschge, M. Y., Porton, S. A., Mazefsky, C. A., & Minshew, N. J. (2018). Cognitive enhancement therapy for adult autism spectrum disorder: Results of an 18-month randomized clinical trial. Autism Research, 11(3), 519–530. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1913[opens in new tab]

Green, M. F., Kern, R. S., Braff, D. L., & Mintz, J. (2000). Neurocognitive deficits and functional outcome in schizophrenia: Are we measuring the “right stuff”? Schizophrenia Bulletin, 26(1), 119–136. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.schbul.a033430[opens in new tab]

Hogarty, G. E., & Greenwald, D. P. (2006). Cognitive enhancement therapy: The training manual. University of Pittsburg Medical Center. https://www.cognitiveenhancementtherapy.com/[opens in new tab]

Lejeune, J. A., Northrop, A., & Kurtz, M. M. (2021). A meta-analysis of cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: Efficacy and the role of participant and treatment factors.Schizophrenia Bulletin, 47(4), 997–1006. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbab022[opens in new tab]

Lu, E. Y., Cheng, A. S., Tsang, H. W., Chen, J., Leung, S., Yip, A., Lin, J. J., Lam, Z. V., Zhang, W., Zhao, M., & Ma, N. (2022). Psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, cognitive remediation training, and/or social skills training in combination for psychosocial functioning of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 899840. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.899840[opens in new tab]

McGurk, S. R., Twamley, E. W., Sitzer, D. I., McHugo, G. J., & Mueser, K. T. (2007). A meta-analysis of cognitive remediation in schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(12), 1791–1802. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07060906[opens in new tab]

Segal, A., Tiego, J., Parkes, L., Holmes, A. J., Marquand, A. F., & Fornito, A. (2025). Embracing variability in the search for biological mechanisms of psychiatric illness. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 29(1), 85–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2024.09.010[opens in new tab]

Van Patten, R., Lu, M., Austin, T. A., Cotton, E., Chan, L., Bellone, J. A., Mordecai, K. L., Twamley, E. W., Sawyer, K., & LaFrance Jr, W. C. (2025). Associations of cognitive test performance with self-reported mental health, cognition, and quality of life in adults with functional seizures: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 39(7), 1820–1845. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2024.2440949[opens in new tab]

Vita, A., Barlati, S., Ceraso, A., Nibbio, G., Ariu, C., Deste, G., & Wykes, T. (2021). Effectiveness, core elements, and moderators of response of cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. JAMA Psychiatry, 78(8), 848–858. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.0620 [opens in new tab]

Instructors

Dr. Matcheri Keshavan, Professor and Academic Head of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and MMHC; Harvard Medical School

Dr. Keshavan maintains an active clinical practice and is the Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School and Academic Head for the department. Dr. Keshavan’s research focus is in neurobiology of psychosis, especially as it pertains to first episode psychotic disorders. He has received several awards including the Gaskell Gold Medal of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (1985); Nancy Roschke Certificate for Teaching Excellence of the American Psychiatric Association in 1993; Teaching awards at the Departments of Psychiatry in Pittsburgh (1992, 1994, and 2004), Wayne State University (2008) and at Harvard (2011) and the 2019 NAMI National Research award, the 2019 research award by the World congress of Biological Psychiatry and the 2020 Karimnagar Research Award and Gold medal, Indian Psychiatric Society. He is a distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association; a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Canada; and a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK. Dr. Keshavan is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Journal of Psychiatry (Elsevier), a former editor of Schizophrenia Research, and serves on the editorial board for journals such as Early Intervention in Psychiatry, and Biomarkers in Neuropsychiatry. His other interests include the psychotherapeutic insights from the Bhagavad Gita.

Nicole Errickson, LCSW

Nicole is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Georgia. She brings over 19 years experience in the social work field, primarily working in school systems as a school social worker and with the McKinney-Vento grant. Over her career, Nicole has had several opportunities to help develop and execute professional development events. Nicole has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Alabama and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama.

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/8/24-8/8/27.

Social workers completing this course receive 1 clinical continuing education credits.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.