title: Neurocognitive and symptom correlates of daily problem-solving skills in schizophrenia.
abstract: Functional outcome for individuals with schizophrenia has been associated with cognitive impairment. Deficits in attention, memory, speed of information processing and problem-solving skills affect independent functioning, vocational performance, and interpersonal functioning. This study investigated the relationship between neurocognitive functioning, clinical symptoms and daily problem-solving skills in seriously and persistently ill persons. Thirty-eight inpatients and outpatients were administered a neurocognitive battery for attention, working memory, processing speed, perceptual organization, and executive functioning; and semi-structured clinical interviews using the BPRS and SANS. Estimates of daily problem-solving skills were obtained using the relevant factor subscale from the Independent Living Scales (ILS-PB). Daily problem-solving skills were significantly correlated with negative symptoms, processing speed, verbal memory, and working memory scores. A regression model using an enter method suggests that working memory and negative symptoms are significant predictors of daily problem-solving skills and account for 73.2% of the variance. Further analyses demonstrate that daily problem-solving skills and negative symptoms were significantly different for inpatients and outpatients and significantly correlated with community status. The findings suggest the ILS-PB has utility as a proxy measure for assessing real-world functioning in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Program in Cognitive Neuroscience and Schizophrenia, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA. revheim@nki.rfmh.org
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Revheim
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schechter
authors.forename: Dongsoo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silipo
authors.forename: Baerbel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allingham
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Javitt
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology