Clinical correlates associated with cognitive dysfunction in people with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between cognitive function and clinical variables in people with schizophrenia.


METHODS
The subjects were 61 stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV). Their mean age was 40.1 (SD = 12.2) years. All subjects gave written informed consent to participate in the research. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, and the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale.


RESULTS
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale Negative syndrome score was significantly correlated with verbal memory score (r = -0.37, P < 0.01), working memory score (r = 0.38, P < 0.01), attention and speed of information processing score (r = -0.51, P < 0.01), verbal fluency score (r = -0.39, P < 0.01), and composite score (r = -0.54, P < 0.01). In addition, the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale score was significantly correlated with attention and speed of information processing (r = -0.45, P < 0.01), and composite score (r = -0.41, P < 0. 01). Dose of antipsychotics and anti-Parkinson drugs was not significantly correlated with the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia scores.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that cognitive dysfunction of people with schizophrenia might be associated with negative and drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms, suggesting that their minimization would be important for improving cognitive dysfunction.
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
Tsunehiko
T
Tanaka
Masahito
M
Tomotake
Yoshinori
Y
Ueoka
Yasuhiro
Y
Kaneda
Kyoko
K
Taniguchi
Masahito
M
Nakataki
Shusuke
S
Numata
Shinya
S
Tayoshi
Ken
K
Yamauchi
Satsuki
S
Sumitani
Takashi
T
Ohmori
Shu-ichi
S
Ueno
Tetsuro
T
Ohmori
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010045:Outpatients; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D055815:Young Adult