title: Influence of education on WCST performances in schizophrenic patients.
abstract: Schizophrenic patients have been widely reported to fail in performing Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). These data have been mostly interpreted as cognitive difficulties and/or neurofunctional impairment inherent to schizophrenia. Nevertheless, checking sample characteristics, the importance of variables as education appears relevant. In our study we examined schizophrenic patients and controls with low and high educational levels respectively. ANOVA results show significant differences on WCST performances for the variable diagnosis (schizophrenics and controls) and for the variable educational level (low and high educational level). It therefore seems necessary call for caution in interpreting WCST results in schizophrenic patients when educational level is not considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Technological Sciences, University of Milan Medical School, Istituto Scientifico S. Raffaele, Italy.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gambini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Macciardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scarone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003210:Concept Formation; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology