Course of cognitive functioning during the stabilization phase of schizophrenia

Abstract The present study aimed at examining the longitudinal course of neuropsychological impairments in schizophrenia patients during the stabilization phase of the illness. Cognitive functioning of 151 schizophrenia patients was assessed at baseline, 9-month, and 15-month follow-up with a compre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychiatric research 2008-03, Vol.42 (4), p.259-267
Main Authors: Klingberg, Stefan, Wittorf, Andreas, Sickinger, Stephanie, Buchkremer, Gerhard, Wiedemann, Georg
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition Disorders - diagnosis
Cognition Disorders - epidemiology
Cognitive functioning
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Disease Progression
Female
Follow-up
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Neuropsychological Tests
Neuropsychology
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychoses
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - diagnosis
Schizophrenia - epidemiology
Schizophrenic Psychology
Severity of Illness Index
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Summary:Abstract The present study aimed at examining the longitudinal course of neuropsychological impairments in schizophrenia patients during the stabilization phase of the illness. Cognitive functioning of 151 schizophrenia patients was assessed at baseline, 9-month, and 15-month follow-up with a comprehensive battery of cognitive tests. Cognitive performance of 40 matched controls was also examined at baseline and follow-up in order to control for effects of repeated testing. We found significant improvements in memory, attention, and global cognitive functioning from baseline to 9-month follow-up. Abstraction was stable at a relatively normal level. Global cognitive functioning remained at 9-month follow-up one standard deviation below normative level. Improvements in patients’ cognitive performance between the 9-month and the 15-month follow-up were fewer and less pronounced. The present study implies that schizophrenia is a static encephalopathy with trait and state dependent cognitive components particularly in the attention and memory domain. The statistically and clinically significant cognitive improvements should be ground for clinical optimism.
ISSN:0022-3956
1879-1379
DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2007.02.001