title: Effects of quetiapine on cognitive functions in schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  All atypical antipsychotic drugs with complex pharmacology have been shown to improve some, but not all, domains of cognitive function, including quetiapine, i.e., the agent with the most rapid dissociation from dopamine receptors and a relatively weak serotonin antagonism. The present study was to evaluate which, if any, areas of cognition improve in patients with schizophrenia, following a brief treatment with quetiapine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Effects of quetiapine on cognition were investigated in a group of patients with schizophrenia (n=14). Neuropsychological tests in cognitive areas previously shown as impaired in schizophrenia were administered at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment with quetiapine. Administered at these two times were also the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and scales to assess motor side effects (Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, Simpson-Angus Scale, and Barnes Akathisia Scale).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test indicated a statistically significant improvement in scores on Digit Span Test, Trail Making Test, Stroop Test, Finger Tapping Test, and on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. No significant change was noted in motor side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients improved in their attentional, motor, and visuo-motor skills, and in executive functions as well as with respect to psychopathology, without an increase in motor side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Balçova, Inciralti Izmir, Turkey. binnur.kivircik@deu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Berna Binnur
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Kivircik Akdede
authors.forename: Köksal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alptekin
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitiş
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arkar
authors.forename: Yildiz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akvardar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate