The association between cognition and functional outcome in first-episode patients with schizophrenia: mystery resolved?
OBJECTIVE
The presence of a prospective association between cognition and functional outcome in first episode patients with schizophrenia is much debated.


METHODS
Associations between Intelligence Quotient (IQ) measures and functional outcome were assessed at the first hospitalization and after 10 years follow-up.


RESULTS
Functional outcome was associated with estimated premorbid IQ and IQ at 10-year follow-up, but not with IQ assessed at first hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of a prospective as well as a cross-sectional relationship of the global cognitive measure IQ with 10-year functional outcome could be established. However, assessing associations between cognitive measures assessed at first hospitalization and subsequent functional outcome, can give inconclusive results due to non-uniform intellectual deterioration from premorbid level in the period preceding the first hospitalization.
van Winkel
R
R
University Psychiatric Center Catholic University Leuven, Leuvensesteenweg, Kortenberg, Belgium.
Myin-Germeys
I
I
De Hert
M
M
Delespaul
P
P
Peuskens
J
J
van Os
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014888:Wechsler Scales