title: Long-term trajectories of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia: A critical overview.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive disturbances are widely pronounced in schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Whilst cognitive deficits are well established in the prodromal phase and are known to deteriorate at the onset of schizophrenia, there is a certain discrepancy of findings regarding the cognitive alterations over the course of the illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  We bring together the results of the longitudinal studies identified through PubMed which have covered more than 3 years follow-up and to reflect on the potential factors, such as sample characteristics and stage of the illness which may contribute to the various trajectories of cognitive changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A summary of recent findings comprising the changes of the cognitive functioning in schizophrenia patients along the longitudinal course of the illness is provided. The potential approaches for addressing cognition in the course of schizophrenia are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the existing controversies on the course of cognitive changes in schizophrenia, differentiated approaches specifically focusing on the peculiarities of the clinical features and changes in specific cognitive domains could shed light on the trajectories of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and spectrum disorders.
authors.affiliation: Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry, Moscow, Russian Federation. Electronic address: ashmukler@yandex.ru.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Shmukler
authors.affiliation: Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: I Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Gurovich
authors.affiliation: Clare College Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agius
authors.affiliation: Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry, Moscow, Russian Federation; National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; Human Science Centre and Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zaytseva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
keywords: Cognitive deficits; Follow-up; Schizophrenia; Trajectories