title: Disturbed cognitive functioning and clinical symptoms: two independent problem areas in schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research findings on the relationship between cognitive functioning and psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia have yielded inconsistent results. Although several models were postulated linking cognition and symptoms, the most recent studies point in the direction of cognition and symptoms being relatively independent disease processes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The hypothesis that cognitive decline and psychiatric symptoms are independent disease processes was tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relationship between cognitive functioning and clinical symptoms was examined in a large sample of 100 schizophrenia patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hypothesis was largely confirmed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No convincing evidence was found that symptoms and cognition were related.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychotic Disorders, GGZ-Drenthe, Assen.
authors.forename: G H M
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Pijnenborg
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychotic Disorders, GGZ-Drenthe, Assen.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Beilen
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychotic Disorders, GGZ-Drenthe, Assen.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arends
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: E A E
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Holthausen
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychotic Disorders, GGZ-Drenthe, Assen.
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Withaar