Racial effects on neuropsychological functioning in schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the effects of race on neuropsychological functioning in patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
A total of 160 patients with schizophrenia completed an extensive neuropsychological test battery. Scores were standardized to a group of 99 psychiatrically and physically healthy subjects and categorized into seven functional domains: concentration, executive function, language, motor function, spatial memory, verbal memory, and visual processing.


RESULTS
African Americans (N=25) had significantly lower mean scores on executive function, language, spatial memory, and visual processing than did Caucasians (N=135). Statistical control for patient and family education eliminated all significant effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Educational differences in patients and families may account for some of the performance heterogeneity reported in patients with schizophrenia and should be routinely analyzed with other sociodemographic factors such as race and sex.
Lewine
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Skyland Trail Health and Education Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30319, USA. sdprrj@emory.edu
Caudle
J
J
D044383:Black People / Q000145:classification*; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012923:Social Class; D044465:White People / Q000145:classification*; D001741:Black or African American