title: Neurocognitive functioning and suicidality in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether suicide attempters had higher IQ, better executive functioning, or were more impulsive as measured by neuropsychological tests than non-attempters in a group of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-four patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were assessed with a clinical interview for diagnosis, suicidality, symptoms and function, and underwent an extensive neurocognitive test battery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences in any neurocognitive domains between lifetime suicide attempters and non-attempters, or between patients with different rates of suicide attempts. Currently suicidal patients were significantly more impulsive (had poorer inhibitory control) than currently non-suicidal patients, but this difference was mediated by positive psychotic symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, there are no significant differences in IQ or neurocognitive functioning between suicide attempters and non-attempters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway. e.a.barrett@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Kjetil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sundet
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simonsen
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Agartz
authors.forename: Steinar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lorentzen
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mehlum
authors.forename: Erlend
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mork
authors.forename: Ole A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Melle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*