title: Patterns of content, contextual, and working memory impairments in schizophrenia and nonamnesic alcoholism.
abstract: This study used tests of content memory (item recognition of words and abstract designs), context memory (order recognition of verbal and nonverbal items), and working memory (recognition at a short retention interval) to examine patterns of performance in 27 schizophrenic patients, 52 chronic alcoholic patients, and 66 healthy control participants. When performance was age- and IQ-adjusted the schizophrenia group was significantly impaired in item and order recognition of verbal and nonverbal material; the alcoholic group was impaired only in order recognition for both material types. Item- and order-recognition deficits in the schizophrenia group were greatest at the shortest retention intervals, a pattern previously observed in patients with Parkinson's disease, suggesting a prominence of a working memory deficit in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, California, USA. edie@alois.icon.palo-alto.med.va.gov
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Shear
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Zipursky
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sagar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfefferbaum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology