title: Stability of executive functions in first episode psychosis: One year follow up study.
abstract: Executive functioning is a multi-dimensional construct covering several sub-processes. The aim of this study was to determine whether executive functions, indexed by a broad range of executive measures remain stable in first episode psychosis (FEP) over time. Eighty-two patients and 107 age and gender matched healthy controls were assessed on five subdomains of executive functioning; working memory, fluency, flexibility, and inhibitory control at baseline and at 1 year follow-up. Results showed that patients performed significantly poorer than controls on all executive measures at both assessment points. In general executive functions remained stable from baseline to follow-up, although both groups improved on measures of inhibitory control and flexibility. In phonemic fluency, controls showed a slight improvement while patients showed a slight decline. Investigation of individual trajectories revealed some fluctuations in both groups over time, but mainly supports the group level findings. The implications of these results are discussed.
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: b.c.haatveit@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: Beathe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haatveit
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1094 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaskinn
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1094 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Kjetil S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Sundet
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo, Norway; Centre for Psychology, Kristianstad University, Elmetorpsvägen 15, 291 39 Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ole A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Melle
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1094 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Torill
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognition; Longitudinal study; Reliable change; Schizophrenia spectrum disorders