title: Prefrontal cognitive functions in stabilized first-episode patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a dissociation between dorsolateral and orbitofrontal functioning.
abstract: Specific prefrontal cognitive impairments have been reported in first-episode and chronic schizophrenia. We sought to investigate potential impairments in specific prefrontal cortical cognitive functions among stabilized patients with a first-episode of schizophrenia. A sample of 80 individuals with a first-episode of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 22 healthy volunteers underwent a neurocognitive battery assessing orbitofrontal (OFC) [The Iowa Gambling Task (GT)], and dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPFC) functions (WAIS III Backward digits, verbal fluency test (FAS), and Trail Making Test). Cognitive data were obtained following stabilization of acute psychotic symptoms. Clinical symptoms after six weeks of treatment were assessed by using the SAPS and SANS scales. While there were no significant group differences in overall scores and in the profile of progress of performance along periods on the GT, patient group showed a significant impairment when performing DLPFC tasks. Only FAS score was correlated to the severity of negative symptomatology. The OFC functions are unimpaired at the early phases of psychosis and in contrast there is a significant deficit in DLPFC functions in first-episode of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Planta 2(a), Edificio 2 de Noviembre. Avda. Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Sánchez
authors.forename: Benedicto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crespo-Facorro
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez-Iglesias
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez Iglesias
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Blanch
authors.forename: César González-Blanch
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Jimenez
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llorca
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Barquero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*