Are personality traits associated with cognitive disturbance in psychosis?
OBJECTIVE
Personality and cognition are often considered as disparate constructs, both in normal individuals and in those with a psychosis. The goal of the present study was to analyze the relationship between dimensions of personality and cognitive performance in individuals with psychosis.


METHODS
Sixty-one consecutively admitted patients with an acute psychotic episode were recruited for this study. Personality was assessed through a semistructured interview with a close relative using the Personality Assessment Schedule. A wide neuropsychological battery was applied, including attentional, executive, memory tasks and global cognition. Assessments took place when symptomatology was in remission.


RESULTS
Higher scores on a passive-dependent dimension were significantly associated with poorer memory performance. Similarly, higher levels for a schizoid dimension were significantly associated with poorer executive performance. The results remained significant after partialling out the effect of gender, psychopathological dimensions and drug status.


CONCLUSIONS
It is hypothesized that personality traits and cognitive performance are interrelated domains in psychosis.
Cuesta
M J
MJ
Psychiatric Unit of Virgen del Camino Hospital, C/ Irunlarrea 4, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain. mj.cuesta.zorita@cfnavarra.es
Peralta
V
V
Zarzuela
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology