Rehab Rounds: Cognitive Remediation in the Supportive Housing Setting

Introduction by the column editors: Homeless persons with mental illness lack not only shelter and reliable pharmacotherapy but also the skills to function adaptively in the community. Given that their deficits are often complicated by substance abuse and medical illness (1), support services must be provided together with housing so that these individuals can stabilize clinically and gain the skills to become functional and independent. Supportive housing programs follow this model and incorporate additional human and social services into residential settings.Thus it is necessary to address these cognitive impairments so that support services can be utilized more effectively. However, cognitive impairments make it difficult for many persons with serious mental illness to take advantage of these services. In this month's column, Dr. Medalia and her colleagues describe a unique program in which cognitive remediation is offered with an array of on-site community services at a supportive housing facility for the homeless mentally ill in New York City.