Cognitive function and depression in symptom resolution in schizophrenia patients treated with an atypical antipsychotic.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate which cognitive and affective features contribute most to responder/non-responder group separation during a switching trial with atypical antipsychotic.


METHODS
A prospective open trial with an atypical antipsychotic (olanzapine).


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-four patients meeting diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, schizophreniform or schizoaffective disorder began an 8-week open-label olanzapine treatment at a dose of 5 mg/day which was increased to 10 mg/day after one week.


METHODS
Olanzapine during 8 weeks. Patients were considered as responders if their BPRS score decreased of at least 20% (n = 96) and non-responders if it did not (n = 38). Neuropsychological assessments were carried out at baseline, at four and at eight weeks.


RESULTS
Neurocognitive measures were analyzed for discriminate factors between responder and non-responder groups. A regression analysis was applied to explain the effects of depression on each cognitive variable. Depression was found to be a weak discriminant factor, however this finding could not firmly establish that depression is a potential factor in explaining deficits and improvements in cognition.
Stip
Emmanuel
E
Fernand Seguin Research Center, Louis-H Lafontaine Hospital, University of Montreal, Montréal, Que., Canada. emmanuel.stip@umontreal.ca
Mancini-Marïe
Adham
A
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine