title: Neurocognitive and functional correlates of mobile phone use in middle-aged and older patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to examine the association of mobile phone use and ownership with psychopathology, cognitive functioning, and functional outcome in 196 outpatients aged 40 years and older who were diagnosed with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants reported their past and current mobile phone use on a standardized self-report scale and they were administered tests of global cognition, functional capacity, and informant-rated functional outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The great majority of subjects had used a mobile phone (78%) but few currently owned one (27%). After adjusting for age (mean age 51), any past mobile phone use was associated with less severe negative symptoms, and higher global cognitive performance, functional capacity, and functional outcome. A total of 60% of participants reported being comfortable with mobile phones, but comfort was not associated with any cognitive or functional outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the older patients with schizophrenia have used mobile phones and lifetime mobile phone use is a positive indicator of cognitive and functional status.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , UC San Diego , San Diego , CA , USA.|b VA San Diego Healthcare System , San Diego , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Colin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Depp
authors.affiliation: c SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology , San Diego , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Alexandrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Harmell
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , UC San Diego , San Diego , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Ipsit V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Vahia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , UC San Diego , San Diego , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Brent T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Mausbach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010067:Ownership / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: aging; cognitive functioning; disability; psychosis; technology