title: Cognitive performance during the first year of treatment in first-episode schizophrenia: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several questions remain unanswered regarding the magnitude and time course of cognitive improvement in response to antipsychotic treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in cognitive performance in antipsychotic-naive or minimally medicated patients with first-episode schizophrenia during the first 12 months of treatment, in a case-control design. Patients were treated with flupenthixol decanoate depot injection, according to a standard algorithm. The primary outcome measure was change in MATRICS Cognitive Consensus Battery (MCCB) composite score over 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 92 patients and 100 healthy controls matched for age, sex, ethnicity and educational status. Cognitive function was assessed by means of the MCCB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mixed-effects model identified a significant group × time effect (p ≤ 0.0001) for the MCCB composite score, with patients showing a greater degree of change than the controls. For the other MCCB domains there were significant group × time effects at adjusted significance level for attention and vigilance (p ≤ 0.0001), visual learning (p ≤ 0.0001), verbal learning (p = 0.005) and working memory (p ≤ 0.0001), but not for reasoning and problem solving (p = 0.04), speed of processing (p = 0.03) and social cognition (p = 0.06). There were moderate correlations between change in MCCB composite score and change in symptomatology as assessed by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale factor analysis-derived domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substantial improvements in cognitive function were observed over and above a practice effect, and were significantly correlated with improvements in psychopathology and functionality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg Campus,Cape Town,South Africa.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg Campus,Cape Town,South Africa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Killian
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg Campus,Cape Town,South Africa.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chiliza
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg Campus,Cape Town,South Africa.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Asmal
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg Campus,Cape Town,South Africa.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schoeman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg Campus,Cape Town,South Africa.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Oosthuizen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Statistical Consultation,Stellenbosch University,South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg Campus,Cape Town,South Africa.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Emsley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001288:Attention; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005475:Flupenthixol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011340:Problem Solving; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014706:Verbal Learning; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D005475:Flupenthixol
keywords: Flupenthixol decanoate; neurocognition; outcome; psychosis