Cognitive and Functional Remediation

Cognitive functions encompass the mental processes that take place in the brain, in the central nervous system, related to thinking, decision making, planning, paying attention, remembering. In recent years, the increasing prevalence of dementia in the general population has led to a growing interest in stimulating cognitive functions. This greater awareness of the importance of preserving and improving our cognitive functions has been accompanied by a proliferation of brain training programmes, especially with the expansion of new technologies. Even so, neuropsychological rehabilitation and its application in different pathologies have been in use for more than a century. While different assessments and treatment procedures for brain injury began to be developed in the 1970s, neuropsychological evaluations acquired a relevant status in the world of psychiatry in the late twentieth century, with a particular focus on schizophrenia. Currently, the study of cognitive functioning has been extended to other psychiatric illnesses, especially affective disorders such as bipolar disorder and depression.