title: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) in First Episode of Psychosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neurocognitive deficits are now recognized as part of the fundamental disturbances and are a major determinant of functional outcome in psychosis. A cross-sectional association between cognitive deficits and poor social and occupational outcomes has been demonstrated; and treatment of cognitive impairment at the time of the first episode may have the potential to change functional outcomes of the illness. We conducted this study to evaluate cognitive function in first episode of psychosis by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty two patients with first episode of psychosis were selected and underwent psychiatric interview and took MMSE test. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS-18 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to MMSE scale, 47 patients (75.8%) showed definite cognitive impairment, 8(12.9%) showed possible impairment, and 7(11.3%) showed no cognitive impairment. According to MMSE subscale, registration (69.4%) and recall (77.3%) were the most impaired cognitive areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current study indicate significant cognitive impairment in patients with first episode of psychosis. We recommend future studies with larger sample size and control group for further evaluation of cognitive function as early treatment of cognitive impairments may have important implications in the course of illness.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Faezeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tatari
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Farnia
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kazemi