A newfangled brainiac training app could assist to better schizophrenic disorder patients ’ memory and their quality of life . research worker fromCambridge Universityhave developed a brain game that may be able-bodied to overcome some of the current limitation of drug therapy and avail schizophrenia patients to minimize the impact of the condition .
Schizophrenia is a mental upset that feign more than21 million people worldwide . Those who suffer from the recollective - condition mental health condition can exhibit a number ofpsychological symptoms , which include hallucinations , difficulty contract and delusions . While schizophrenia can be contend with current medications and psychosocial reinforcement , patient are still left with cognitive impairments , such as memory red ink . As a termination , patients are often unable to endure independent lives as they skin to recall memories that are critical to their twenty-four hours to solar day life .
Professor Barbara Sahakian and her research squad , from theDepartment of Psychiatryat Cambridge , suggest that their app – called Wizard – could step in to help improve cognitive function for dementia praecox affected role . research worker hope that Wizard can fill in the spread in pharmaceutical treatment to better episodic memory , which schizophrenia is known to affect . This is a person ’s specific store of an consequence or experience , which can be the touch you parked your gondola or where you left your key .
Researchers recruited 22 player who had a schizophrenic psychosis diagnosis for the bailiwick , publish inPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. They break up the participant into two mathematical group : one played the brain training biz for a total of eight hours over a four - hebdomad full stop , and the other chemical group did n’t get to play the game . researcher then test all participant ’ episodic memory with theCambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery(CANTAB ) PAL . Researchers also measure participant ’ level of enjoyment and motivation using theGlobal Assessment of Functioning ( GAF ) scale .
The subject area depict a significant benefit for those using the Wizard app . Schizophrenia affected role who used the app made fewer errors in the ( CANTAB ) PAL tests compared to the control group . These patient role also had an increased GAF scale musical score , which research worker interpreted to suggest that they not only enjoyed the game , but were motivated to continue playing . Those who were most motivated to diddle the app did the best .
“ The retentivity game can aid where drug have so far failed . Because the game is interesting , even those patients with a general want of motivation are spurred on to continue the grooming , ” Sahakian read in astatement .
Researchers are n’t exactly sure why the app was able to help Schizophrenia patients better episodic computer memory , but suggest that this apparent effect could directly impact global functions or have an indirect impingement on need and self - regard . As the sample size was somewhat small , researcher would need to do further research to confirm the study ’s findings .
