Cognitive impairments and negative symptoms in schizophrenia are associated with poorer outcomes and are typically resistant to pharmacological interventions. However, these features can vary dramatically in their level of expression, and they can improve as a function of external context (by providing performance-contingent incentives and a more stimulating environment) and internal context (by challenging defeatist performance beliefs and by reducing stress and improving physical health). This Open Forum briefly reviews some of this evidence for the situational variability of cognitive impairments and negative symptoms in schizophrenia and highlights psychosocial treatments that capitalize on this variability.. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP (legacy account)- Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai