A Patient-Clinician Discussion of Current Challenges in Schizophrenia Part 1: Addressing Daily Functioning and Cognitive Impairments Associated with Schizophrenia

Dr John Kane, a clinical expert in schizophrenia, discusses cognitive impairments in schizophrenia with fellow expert Dr Philip D. Harvey and patient advocate and mental health clinician, Mr Carlos Larrauri, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The podcast aims to raise awareness of the unmet need to address cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) as well as the challenges/opportunities faced by patients and clinicians regarding assessments and treatments. The authors emphasize the importance of a treatment focus on daily functioning, in parallel with cognitive symptoms, to mitigate impairments and improve overall outcomes. Mr Larrauri presents the patient perspective and shares his experiences of how psychosocial support and cognitive training can benefit recovery and help patients achieve their goals.

Author Biographies

Dr John Kane is Professor of Psychiatry and Molecular Medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, a recipient of the Arthur P. Noyes Award in Schizophrenia, the Lieber Prize for Outstanding Research in Schizophrenia, the Heinz E. Lehmann Research Award from New York State, and the Dean Award from the American College of Psychiatrists.

Dr Philip D. Harvey is Leonard M. Miller Professor of Psychiatry, vice chair for research, and director of the Division of Psychology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and has also received a number of awards for research and has authored over 1,000 scientific papers and abstracts and written over 60 book chapters. 

Mr Carlos A. Larrauri, MSN, is a mental health clinician, and member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Board of Directors who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 23 years of age. He has previously published on cognition and functioning in schizophrenia with Dr. Harvey, and is currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Michigan Law School, and a concurrent master’s in public administration at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he is a Zuckerman Fellow at Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership. He also writes original music and performs in the band FogDog alongside Mr Matthew Racher, whose music can be heard in this podcast.