title: Executive dysfunction and memory impairment in schizoaffective disorder: a comparison with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and healthy controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deficits in memory and executive performance are well-established features of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. By contrast, data on cognitive impairment in schizoaffective disorder are scarce and the findings are conflicting.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-III) and the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) to test memory and executive function in 45 schizophrenic patients, 26 schizomanic patients and 51 manic bipolar patients in comparison to 65 healthy controls. The patients were tested when acutely ill.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three patient groups performed significantly more poorly than the controls on global measures of memory and executive functioning, but there were no differences among the patient groups. There were few differences in memory and executive function subtest scores within the patient groups. There were no differences in any test scores between manic patients with and without psychotic symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Schizophrenic, schizomanic and manic patients show a broadly similar degree of executive and memory deficits in the acute phase of illness. Our results do not support a categorical differentiation across different psychotic categories with regard to neuropsychological deficits.
authors.affiliation: FIDMAG Germanes Hospitaláries Barcelona, Spain. benedikt.amann@gmail.com
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amann
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gomar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Gil
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sans-Sansa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarró
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madre
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landin-Romero
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vieta
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goikolea
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Giokolea
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pomarol-Clotet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology