Antipsychotic drugs exacerbate impairment on a working memory task in first-episode schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
This study sought to replicate previous findings of worsened performance on a translational spatial working memory task among antipsychotic-naïve first-episode schizophrenia patients after antipsychotic treatment and to extend these findings by examining whether changes in the allocation of covert attention contribute to this effect.


METHODS
Fourteen antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia patients performed an oculomotor delayed response task before and 6 weeks after antipsychotic treatment (risperidone n = 11; olanzapine n = 3). Fifteen matched healthy individuals were studied in parallel.


RESULTS
Patients' pretreatment deficit in accurately remembering spatial locations was exacerbated by antipsychotic treatment, consistent with previous findings; however, this occurred only when covert attention was directed away from remembered locations during delay periods.


CONCLUSIONS
Disruption in the allocation of covert attention might contribute to patients' decline in spatial working memory after antipsychotic treatment. Alterations in prefrontal dopaminergic systems or reduced thalamocortical drive might account for this apparent adverse cognitive effect of antipsychotic treatment.
Reilly
James L
JL
Center for Cognitive Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. jreilly@psych.uic.edu
Harris
Margret S H
MS
Khine
Tin T
TT
Keshavan
Matcheri S
MS
Sweeney
John A
JA
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003463:Cues; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine