Group treatment approaches to address cognitive deficits

Psychiatric rehabilitation services are primarily delivered using group modalities. Recent evidence points to the deleterious effects of poor cognitive functioning on group involvement, skill development and functional outcomes. This paper reviews the impact of individual cognitive deficits on group functioning, discusses the rationale for using a cognitive framework for group development, and presents multiple examples of group programming with compensatory and remediation techniques to improve group functioning. Examples include modifying groups to address cognitive limitations, as well as developing groups targeting specific cognitive functions. The groups described are suitable for persons with serious and persistent mental illness across hospital and community treatment settings.