Spatial working memory ability is a marker of risk-for-psychosis.
BACKGROUND
Working memory has been identified as a core cognitive deficit in schizophrenia that is associated with negative symptoms, but it is unclear whether it is impaired prior to onset of psychosis in symptomatic patients.


METHODS
Thirty-eight young people at ultra high-risk (UHR) of developing psychosis (of whom nine later became psychotic) were compared with 49 healthy controls on tests of spatial working memory (SWM) and delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS).


RESULTS
Both SWM and DMTS performance was significantly poorer in the UHR groups. Those who later became psychotic generally performed more poorly than those who did not, although this did not reach significance for any measure. A significant association between SWM errors and negative symptoms was seen in the later-psychotic group only (P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Spatial working memory abilities are impaired in those at high-risk for psychosis. The relationship between working memory and negative symptoms may be useful as a predictive tool.
Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Research & Academic Unit, PACE Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Sunshine Hospital, St Albans, VIC, Australia.
S J
SJ
Wood
C
C
Pantelis
T
T
Proffitt
L J
LJ
Phillips
G W
GW
Stuart
J A
JA
Buchanan
K
K
Mahony
W
W
Brewer
D J
DJ
Smith
P D
PD
McGorry
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology