Cognitive profiles of healthy siblings of schizophrenia patients: Application of the cognitive domains of the MATRICS consensus battery

Abstract

Even though a large body of data suggests the presence of various types of cognitive deficits in the unaffected relatives of schizophrenia patients, more study is needed to clarify the comparative sensitivities of specific cognitive measures for relative-control differences. In this study, the authors compared the cognitive profiles of unaffected siblings of schizophrenia patients and those of patients and normal controls, and attempted to identify cognitive markers that might be associated with genetic liability to schizophrenia. Eighty-eight clinically stable schizophrenia patients, 44 healthy patient siblings, and 100 normal controls were evaluated using comprehensive neuropsychological tests. The domain structure of the MATRICS consensus cognitive battery was adopted, and both domain scores and individual test scores were used in the analysis. Performances of the sibling group were intermediate between those of patients and controls on most measures. A significant difference between the sibling and control groups was observed only in the Category Fluency Test. This cognitive deficit might be caused by familial predisposition to schizophrenia and could be a candidate of endophenotype for schizophrenia.

Neuropsychological profile in adult schizophrenia measured with the CMINDS

“…The finding of the largest deficit in speed of processing and the smallest in reasoning/problem solving in patients with schizophrenia, compared to healthy volunteers, is consistent with findings from meta-analyses (Dickinson et al, 2007; Schaefer et al, 2013) as well as many, though not all (Nam et al, 2009; Shamsi et al, 2011), studies that used the MCCB (Freedman et al, 2008; Javitt et al, 2012; Keefe et al, 2011; Kern et al, 2011; Silverstein et al, 2010). Domain profiles are traditionally based on z- or T-scores, thought it could be argued that domain profiles based on effect sizes rather than z-scores are more appropriate give that effect sizes also take into account variance in the patient sample, while z- and T-score profiles do not.…”

“…The MCCB has norms for English and Spanish versions in the United States, and co-norming and standardization of the battery are taking place in several other countries (Jedrasik-Styla et al, 2012; Mohn et al, 2012; Rapisarda et al, 2013; Rodriguez-Jimenez et al, 2011). In addition, a number of studies have now reported cognitive domain profiles based on the MCCB in adult patients with schizophrenia (August et al, 2011; Freedman et al, 2008; Javitt et al, 2012; Keefe et al, 2011; Kern et al, 2011; Marx et al, 2009; Pietrzak et al, 2009; Rajji et al, 2013; Shamsi et al, 2011; Silverstein et al, 2010), early-onset schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (Holmen et al, 2009), non-ill siblings (Nam et al, 2009), adolescents with psychotic symptoms (Kelleher et al, 2012), and youth at clinical high-risk for psychosis (De Herdt et al, 2013). …”

Increased familiarity of intellectual deficits in early-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders

“…Patients were included when no more than 4 years had passed since the onset of the fi rst psychotic symptoms and no presence Poor IQ performance has also been found in healthy fi rst-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia when compared to control subjects (Egan et al 2001;Groom et al 2008;Nam et al 2009). These fi ndings highlight a familial component for the relationship between impairments in IQ and schizophrenia.…”

PICK1 Genetic Variation and Cognitive Function in Patients with Schizophrenia

“…Moreover, cognitive dysfunction has been regarded as a candidate of endophenotype of schizophrenia 22 . On the other hand, the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has the compelling association with NMDA hypofunction 23 .…”