Neurocognitive performances in participants of at-risk mental state for schizophrenia and in first-episode patients.
As suggested by the neurodevelopmental model, neurocognitive disturbances are core features of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The aim of the present study was to explore the neurocognitive performance of symptomatically defined high-risk participants as well as first-episode patients on tests of verbal memory, executive functioning, working memory, and attention. The sample consisted of 54 participants at risk for schizophrenia and 37 patients with a first episode of psychosis. The high-risk group exhibited a similar cognitive performance profile to that of the first-episode participants when compared with normative data. The neurocognitive functioning of both patient groups were within standard average range at most of the cognitive domains. Moreover the intellectual functioning of both groups was within higher average level, while decreased "hit rates" could be observed within both subtests "Figures" and "Symbols" of the Continuous Performance Test-Identical Pairs Version (CPT-IP) in the group of first-episode patients. Direct comparison between the clinical groups did show increasing impairments of these parameters in first-episode patients compared to high-risk participants. Results suggest that high-risk participants do perform at average neurocognitive performance levels at all tested domains compared with normative data. Compared to norm values first-episode patients showed decreased attention abilities.
Ozgürdal
Seza
S
Early Recognition and Therapy Centre for Beginning Psychoses Bochum (BoFit), Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Littmann
Ekhart
E
Hauser
Marta
M
von Reventlow
Heinrich
H
Gudlowski
Yehonala
Y
Witthaus
Henning
H
Heinz
Andreas
A
Juckel
Georg
G
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult