[Cognitive functions in prepsychotic and negative-symptom schizophrenic patients].
BACKGROUND
Relationship between schizophrenia and cognitive functions has been reported by several studies. Our work group examined the changes of cognitive functions in prepsychotic patients without any relevant psychiatric disorder in their anamnesis, and also in schizophrenic patients with predominantly negative symptoms.


METHODS
Measures were carried out by Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), a complex computer-based test battery of 13 tests covering a wide range of cognitive functions. 11 prepsychotic (9 male, 2 female) and 14 negative-symptom schizophrenic patients (all male) took part in the study.


RESULTS
Prepsychotic patients showed significant (p < 0.05) impairment in the tests of visual memory, spatial recognition memory, spatial working memory and sustained attention. In patients with negative-symptoms significant deficits were also found (p < 0.05) in the delayed matching to sample, the working memory test, and in the intra-extradimensional shift--an analogue of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results show CANTAB may be a useful tool to detect the emergence of psychosis in an early phase, and also it has been found that in schizophrenic patients with predominantly negative symptoms further areas of cognition are also affected. The results may provide a better understanding about the background of the disorder, and the early recognition of the cognitive deficits may help to initiate a specific therapy in proper time. This could result in the slowing of the progression and an improved chance of recovery.
Ferencz
Akos
A
Debreceni Egyetem, Orvos-és Egészségtudományi Centrum, Pszichiátriai Tanszék, Debrecen.
Bartók
Eniko
E
Berecz
Roland
R
Glaub
Teodóra
T
Degrell
István
I
D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology