Schizophrenia and memory impairment: evidence for a neurocognitive subtype.
Evidence is presented that verbal memory impairment distinguishes a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia who also differ in symptom profile and illness adjustment. On the basis of the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), a sample of patients was partitioned into memory-impaired (n=16) and memory-unimpaired groups (n=16). Groups were matched for age, sex, IQ, and anti-psychotic medication. These groups were then compared using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). Results indicate that memory-impaired schizophrenia patients experience significantly more positive symptoms and a poorer quality of life than their memory-unimpaired counterparts. This finding supports the idea that neurocognitive measures are a valuable way of organizing the heterogeneous disease states of schizophrenia.
McDermid Vaz
Stephanie A
SA
Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Ontario, Toronto, Canada M3J 1P3. stephanie@yorku.ca
Heinrichs
R Walter
RW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents