Clarifying the diversity of first-episode psychosis: Neuropsychological correlates of clinical symptoms.
BACKGROUND
Psychosis is marked by heterogeneity, which complicates effective treatment.


OBJECTIVE
Subgroups of first-episode psychosis could be found by identifying neuropsychological correlates of psychiatric symptoms.


METHODS
Ninety-two outpatients with first-episode psychosis were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery.


RESULTS
Factor analysis of PANSS revealed five symptom dimensions. Negative symptoms were correlated with widespread neuropsychological dysfunction. Disorganization symptoms were correlated with more focused deficits in executive function, attention and processing speed implicating dysfunction in frontal-subcortical circuits. Asocial, positive and affective symptoms were not associated with cognition.


CONCLUSIONS
In first-episode psychosis, neuropsychological deficits are associated with negative and disorganization symptom dimensions, which appear to be marked by different cognitive profiles. These findings have implications for improving symptom-specific treatment.
Lindsberg
Jenni
J
Department of Psychiatry, Jorvi Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Espoo, Finland. jenni.lindsberg@hus.fi
Poutiainen
Erja
E
Kalska
Hely
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011930:Reaction Time; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult