title: Cognitive functioning in first-episode schizophrenia: MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) Profile of Impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although many studies have assessed cognitive functioning in first-episode schizophrenia (FESz), the pattern and severity of impairment across cognitive domains remain unclear. Moreover, few studies have directly compared the pattern of cognitive performance between FESz and chronic schizophrenia (CSz). In this study we examined the cognitive impairment profile in FESz using a standardized neurocognitive battery (MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery; MCCB).
  
  
  METHODS
  MCCB data were compared from 105 FESz patients, 176 CSz patients and 300 non-psychiatric (NP) participants. Mixed model analysis evaluated group differences in MCCB profiles and relative strengths and weaknesses in the MCCB profiles of patients. Clinical implications of MCCB performance were also examined; we compared the proportion of participants from each group who exhibited clinically-significant global cognitive impairment based on the MCCB Overall Composite score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FESz and CSz showed impaired performance across all MCCB domains relative to NP. With the exception of relative preservation of working memory and social cognition in FESz, the MCCB domain scores were similar in FESz and CSz. The distribution of impairment on the Overall Composite score did not significantly differ between FESz and CSz; compared to NP, both patient groups were overrepresented in moderate and severe impairment categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pattern, magnitude, and distribution of severity of impairment in FESz were similar to that observed in CSz. However, early in the illness, there may be relative sparing of working memory and social cognition.
authors.affiliation: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States. Electronic address: amccleery@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCleery
authors.affiliation: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.affiliation: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States; VISN 22 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.affiliation: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Subotnik
authors.affiliation: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gretchen-Doorly
authors.affiliation: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States; VISN 22 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Hellemann
authors.affiliation: Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nuechterlein
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognition; First episode schizophrenia; First-episode schizophrenia; MCCB; Profile analysis