Cognitive Impairment Associated With Schizophrenia: Evaluating Emerging Therapies

Target Audience
This educational activity has been designed to meet the needs of psychiatrists, psychiatry mental health therapists (eg, psychologists, social workers, case managers), nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, primary care providers, and other clinicians involved in the management of patients with cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS).

Program Overview
CIAS is a core symptom domain of schizophrenia that can impose even greater long-term damage than the delusions and hallucinations this psychiatric disorder is known for. CIAS, which is marked by impairments in neurocognition and social cognition, can start in early childhood " long before any signs of psychosis. For many patients, functional outcomes are so compromised that performing activities of daily life and living independently are impossible. One therapy in late-phase development is showing promise for CIAS as an add-on treatment to standard-of-care antipsychotics.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

Characterize the disease burden and unmet treatment needs of patients with CIAS 
Explain what is known about the pathophysiology of CIAS and how its symptoms differ from those in the negative domain  
Select an emerging therapeutic agent for patients affected by CIAS based on safety, efficacy, and mechanism of action