title: Stability of attention deficits in schizophrenia.
abstract: Deficits in attention and concentration are consistently identified as an enduring feature of schizophrenia and interfere significantly with successful social and occupational functioning in individuals with this illness. The short-term effects of hospitalization (2 weeks) on attention dysfunction in individuals with schizophrenia were studied in comparison to nonpsychiatric, healthy individuals. In addition, patients who remained stable on medications throughout hospitalization were compared to patients initiating an antipsychotic regimen upon admission. Attention and concentration were significantly enhanced after two weeks in the previously unmedicated group. However, improvement failed to reach the level of performance of comparison subjects.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, C268-71, 4200 E. 9th Avenue, Denver, CO 80262, United States. Josette.Harris@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Josette G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Arpi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minassian
authors.forename: Willliam
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents