title: Neurocognition in schizophrenia: from prodrome to multi-episode illness.
abstract: Individuals with schizophrenia present a neuropsychological deficit throughout the course of the disorder. Few studies have addressed the progression of the deficit since the prodromal phase of the disorder. This investigation explored neurocognition in accordance with the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus recommendations. The aim of the study was to explore the presence of neurocognitive impairment in ultra-high-risk individuals and the stage of this impairment in samples at different phases of illness. Thirty-six individuals with a prodromal syndrome, 53 first-episode and 44 multi-episode schizophrenia patients were assessed to examine neuropsychological performance. ANCOVA analysis adjusted for possible confounder factors and planned contrasts with healthy controls were undertaken. The results revealed deficits in speed-of-processing, visual-learning and social-cognition in prodromal individuals, and of all other neuropsychological domains in both first-episode and multi-episode patients. Furthermore impairment was found in the first-episode and in the multi-episode group, respectively on working-memory and attention. Within the framework of the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia, our results suggest the presence of neuropsychological impairment before the onset of full-blown psychosis. Moreover, the deficits are larger in the more chronic groups, according to the theory of an ongoing neurodevelopmental alteration.
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs) Unit of Psychiatry, Sant׳Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Electronic address: vale.corigliano@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corigliano
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs) Unit of Neurology, Sant׳Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Carolis
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs) Unit of Psychiatry, Sant׳Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trovini
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs) Unit of Psychiatry, Sant׳Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dehning
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs) Unit of Psychiatry, Sant׳Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs) Unit of Psychiatry, Sant׳Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curto
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs) Unit of Neurology, Sant׳Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs) Unit of Psychiatry, Sant׳Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Pisa
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs) Unit of Psychiatry, Sant׳Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.affiliation: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs) Unit of Psychiatry, Sant׳Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Comparelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062706:Prodromal Symptoms; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Early psychosis; First-episode schizophrenia; MATRICS; Neurocognitive impairment; Neurodevelopmental model; Ultra-high risk