Evaluation of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia using event-related potentials and rehabilitation influences using EEG Biofeedback in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Cognitive deficits in schizophrenic patients have a chronic and negative effect on patients' social functioning. Antipsychotic drugs do not sufficiently improve cognitive functions. In this study, an analysis of previous studies on cognitive functions using event-related potentials in schizophrenia patients was conducted on the basis of available publications (Pubmed, Scopus). The studies indicate numerous deviations at various stages of information processing in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia when compared to healthy subjects, and this justifies the need for the development of new methods influencing the bioelectric brain activity in cognitive rehabilitation of these patients. EEG Biofeedback is a method which could be used for rehabilitation of cognitive functions in schizophrenia patients. Despite it being used in practice, the importance of EEG Biofeedback as a rehabilitation influence on cognitive functions in schizophrenia has not been fully ascertained. This paper analyses the results of previous studies on the effect of EEG Biofeedback therapy on cognitive functions as a possible method to be used in the rehabilitation of schizophrenia patients. Currently, the body of research that may prove the value of this method in the rehabilitation of patients with schizophrenia appears to be insufficient, and there is no scientific evidence from randomized studies for the usefulness of EEG Biofeedback in schizophrenia treatment. At the moment, the recommendation of this method in the cognitive rehabilitation of patients is a therapeutic experiment. The researchers, on the basis of an analysis of clinical cases, currently propose that EEG Biofeedback is conducted in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia by experienced practitioners, paying particular attention to strengthening alpha in the right parietal region.