Implementing Cognitive Remediation Programs in France: The “Secret Sauce”

Cognitive remediation (CR) is a psychosocial therapy that seeks to restore patients’ cognitive abilities by providing strategies to improve functioning in cognitive domains and helping them transfer acquired capabilities to everyday life. Since 2008, CR programs have been introduced in several regional health ministry areas in France. This column describes that implementation initiative, which includes creation of a network of the most active CR programs to conduct multicenter trials; establishment of a university degree in CR, awarded after completion of a one-year clinical training program; and implementation activities of regional health agencies. The authors describe three core elements of a “secret sauce”—a common language, timing, and leadership—that has helped ensure the success of the implementation efforts and that may be useful in other countries.