Abstract illustration representing shared therapy approaches for autism and schizophrenia.

Unlocking Potential: Can the Same Therapy Help with Autism and Schizophrenia?

Lena Kashyap in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores how a frontal/executive programme could offer similar benefits for cognitive function in both autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia."

Psychiatric occupational therapy is increasingly recommended in Japan for both schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This expansion requires therapists to address a broader range of challenges, moving beyond basic support to target cognitive dysfunction and enhance social outcomes.

Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) has emerged as a promising intervention for cognitive dysfunction. While CRT is well-established in schizophrenia treatment, its application to ASD is relatively new. CRT aims to improve cognitive processes like attention, memory, and executive function, ultimately generalizing these improvements to social function.

A specific CRT approach, the frontal/executive programme (FEP), is designed to stimulate frontal lobe function, which is often impaired in both schizophrenia and ASD. This study investigates whether FEP yields similar therapeutic benefits for individuals with ASD and schizophrenia, comparing cognitive and social dysfunction characteristics and responses to FEP in both groups.

Shared Cognitive Challenges, Shared Solutions?

Abstract illustration representing shared therapy approaches for autism and schizophrenia.

The study compared seven patients with ASD and eight patients with schizophrenia, all participating in FEP. Researchers assessed cognitive function using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia-Japanese version (BACS-J), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and continuous performance test (CPT). Social functioning was evaluated using the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale-Japanese version (SCORS-J) and the Life Assessment Scale for the Mentally Ill (LASMI).

The results indicated that the severity of cognitive dysfunction was similar in both groups before treatment. After FEP, both groups showed improvements in cognitive and social function. Specifically, there were no significant differences between the groups in their responses to FEP, suggesting it was equally effective for both ASD and schizophrenia patients in this study.

Cognitive Function: Both groups experienced improvements across multiple cognitive domains, including verbal memory, working memory, and executive functions.
Social Function: Both groups showed enhanced social functioning, indicating better daily living skills and interpersonal relationships.
Comparable Improvement: The degree of improvement in cognitive and social functions was similar between the ASD and schizophrenia groups, highlighting the potential for shared therapeutic strategies.

These findings suggest that FEP can be a valuable tool for addressing frontal lobe dysfunction in both ASD and schizophrenia. The similarity in therapeutic responses underscores the potential for shared treatment approaches despite the distinct diagnostic categories.

Implications and Future Directions

This study provides evidence that a frontal/executive programme can be effectively applied to individuals with ASD, offering similar cognitive and social benefits as seen in schizophrenia. This finding challenges the traditional separation of these conditions and supports the exploration of shared therapeutic strategies.

The effectiveness of FEP in both disorders may be attributed to its structured approach, which encourages verbalization of problem-solving methods and the use of effective strategies. This process may enhance strategic learning, improve self-control, and boost motivation, leading to improvements in both cognitive and social domains.

Future research should focus on larger samples to confirm these findings and further investigate the specific mechanisms by which FEP impacts cognitive and social function in ASD. Exploring the long-term effects of FEP and comparing it with other interventions will also be crucial for optimizing treatment strategies for individuals with ASD and schizophrenia.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/1569186118808217, Alternate LINK

Title: Therapeutic Responses To A Frontal/Executive Programme In Autism Spectrum Disorder: Comparison With Schizophrenia

Subject: Occupational Therapy

Journal: Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Maki Miyajima, Hidetoshi Omiya, Kiyoko Yamashita, Kenji Yambe, Mie Matsui, Kenzo Denda

Published: 2018-10-29

Everything You Need To Know

What is the main purpose of the frontal/executive programme (FEP), and how does it work?

The frontal/executive programme (FEP) is designed to stimulate the frontal lobe of the brain. This area is responsible for executive functions like planning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Because both individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia often experience impairments in these frontal lobe functions, FEP aims to improve these cognitive processes. The ultimate goal is to enhance cognitive and social functioning by directly targeting the neural circuits involved in executive control.

How does the frontal/executive programme (FEP) relate to the broader category of cognitive remediation therapy (CRT)?

Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) focuses on improving cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and executive function. The frontal/executive programme (FEP) is a specific type of CRT tailored to stimulate the frontal lobe, which is crucial for executive functions. Improvements from FEP are intended to generalize to enhanced social functioning and daily living skills. CRT is a broader category of interventions, while FEP is a targeted approach within CRT, specifically designed for individuals with frontal lobe dysfunction, common in both schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

What assessment tools were used to evaluate cognitive and social function, and why were they chosen?

The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia-Japanese version (BACS-J) assesses cognitive function, while the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale-Japanese version (SCORS-J) and the Life Assessment Scale for the Mentally Ill (LASMI) evaluate social functioning. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and continuous performance test (CPT) are cognitive tests that provide complementary data on executive functions and attention. Using multiple assessments offers a comprehensive view of the individual's cognitive and social strengths and weaknesses, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of treatment outcomes following the frontal/executive programme (FEP).

What specific improvements were observed in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia following the frontal/executive programme (FEP)?

The study showed that both individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia experienced similar improvements in cognitive functions like verbal memory, working memory, and executive functions after participating in the frontal/executive programme (FEP). Additionally, both groups demonstrated enhanced social functioning, indicating improvements in daily living skills and interpersonal relationships. The study highlighted that the degree of improvement was comparable between the two groups, suggesting FEP can be an equally effective therapeutic strategy for both conditions.

What are the broader implications of these findings for treating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia, and what future research directions are recommended?

The findings support exploring shared treatment strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia, particularly those addressing frontal lobe dysfunction. While the frontal/executive programme (FEP) showed promise, future research could investigate other shared mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Larger, more diverse studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore the long-term effects of shared treatment approaches. Understanding the underlying neural and cognitive similarities between ASD and schizophrenia could lead to more effective and personalized interventions for both conditions.