Objective To explore the effect of computerized cognitive remediation therapy (CCRT) combined with modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) in improving cognitive impairment of patients with schizophrenia.

Methods A total of 70 patients with schizophrenia were selected and randomly divided into control group and observation group, with 35 cases in each group. The control group was treated with drugs and MECT, and the observation group was treated with drugs, MECT and CCRT. Clinical efficacy and scores of Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), Global Assessment Function (GAF) and Schizophrenic Quality of Life Scale (SQLS) before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.

Results The total effective rate of the observation group was 91.43%, which showed no significant difference compared to 80.00% of the control group (P>0.05). After treatment, the scores of negative symptoms, positive symptoms and general mental symptoms in PANSS were significantly lower than those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the scores of trail making test (TMT), spatial span test (SS), Hopkins verbal learning test (HVLT-R), brief visuospatial memory test revised (BVMT-R) and maze test (MAZES) in MCCB in the observation group increased significantly when compared to those before treatment, and were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the GAF score was significantly higher and the SQLS score was significantly lower in the observation group (P<0.05).

Conclusion CCRT can effectively improve the cognitive function, social function and quality of life in schizophrenic patients treated with MECT.