During the past two years we designed a cognitive-behavioural group therapy program (INT) as further development of the cognitive part of Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT). INT is partly computer based and intends to restitute and compensate neuro- and social cognitive (dys-)functions. The program is embedded in the daily living context of the patients and starts from their resources with a special focus on facilitating intrinsic motivation. The INT-manual contains exercises to improve the following (MATRICS) areas: Speed of processing, attention/vigilance, verbal and visual learning and memory, working memory, reasoning and problem solving, emotional and social perception, social schema and emotion regulation.

Currently we evaluate INT in a randomized multi-centre study in Switzerland and Germany. INT is compared with TAU. Outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM-IV) are included. Assessments are applied before and after therapy with a 1 year follow-up. Additionally the therapy process is evaluated. Assessment instruments measure neuro- and social cognition, psychopathology, social functioning, quality of life, expectation of self-efficacy and therapy motivation. Patients receive 30 therapy sessions each lasting 90 minutes for 15 weeks. During the first study year 44 patients participated (23 for INT and 21 for TAU groups). First results (pre- post assessments) show better outcome of INT patients in neurocognitive variables, emotion perception, self-rated motivation and self-efficacy. Up to now we didn't find a significant influence on social functioning and on psychopathology. Further results, especially data of the follow-up have to confirm the significance of the newly developed therapy program within other rehabilitation approaches.