Memory functioning and negative symptoms as differential predictors of social problem solving skills in schizophrenia

Abstract

Background Neurocognition in general, and memory functioning in particular, as well as symptoms have all been shown to be related to social problem solving (SPS) in schizophrenia. However, few studies have directly compared the relative contribution of neurocognition vs. psychiatric symptoms to the components of SPS. Method Sixty outpatients (aged 21 – 65) who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were administered a broad battery of memory tests and assessed for severity of positive and negative symptoms as part of a baseline assessment of a study of psychiatric rehabilitation. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the contribution of memory functioning vs. symptoms on receiving, processing, and sending skill areas of social problem solving ability. Results An index of verbal learning was the strongest predictor of processing skills whereas negative symptoms were the strongest predictor of sending skills. Positive symptoms were not related to any of the three skill areas of social problem solving. Conclusions Memory functioning and psychiatric symptoms differentially predict selected areas of social problem solving ability in persons with schizophrenia. Consistent with other reports, positive symptoms were not related to social problem solving. Consideration of both neurocognition and negative symptoms may be important to the development of rehabilitation interventions in this area of functioning.

Dysregulated left inferior parietal activity in schizophrenia and depression: functional connectivity and characterization

“…In line with this view, both disorders, schizophrenia as well as depression, go along with cognitive, social and emotional impairments (Bhalla et al, 2005; Lee et al, 2005; Bach et al, 2009; Bourke et al, 2010; Kohler et al, 2010; Wolkenstein et al, 2011; Young et al, 2011; Dimaggio et al, 2012; Fioravanti et al, 2012; Comparelli et al, 2013; Snyder, 2013), as well as with changes in connectivity within parts of the network (Karlsgodt et al, 2008; Zhou et al, 2010). In addition, illness severity in both, schizophrenia and depression correlates with the severity of impairments in cognition, social skills as well as emotional impairment (McDermott and Ebmeier, 2009; Gollan et al, 2010; Tanaka et al, 2012; Ventura et al, 2013). Interestingly, in schizophrenia associations of functions within these domains are more often found or larger for negative than for positive symptoms (Tanaka et al, 2012; Ventura et al, 2013).…”

“…In addition, illness severity in both, schizophrenia and depression correlates with the severity of impairments in cognition, social skills as well as emotional impairment (McDermott and Ebmeier, 2009; Gollan et al, 2010; Tanaka et al, 2012; Ventura et al, 2013). Interestingly, in schizophrenia associations of functions within these domains are more often found or larger for negative than for positive symptoms (Tanaka et al, 2012; Ventura et al, 2013). However, how these associations relate to impairments in posterior IPC and its related network remains an open question.…”

In- and outpatient lifestyle interventions on diet and exercise and their effect on physical and psychological health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and first episode of psychosis

“…Furthermore, previous evidence collected that severity of psychopathology has a strong negative impact on QoL among older adults with SSD and is mainly mediated through two broad dimensions of psychopathology, i.e., negative and cognitive symptoms are significantly associated with poorer functional outcome (Lepage et al, 2014). Several studies have associated negative symptoms with psychosocial functioning (Kurtz, 2006;Lysaker et al, 2009;Ochoa et al, 2005;Ventura et al, 2013) and psychosocial functioning with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (Browne et al, 1996). The present meta-analysis did found beneficial effect of exercise (but not psychotherapy) on global functioning and QoL outcomes, in accordance with a metaanalysis pointing exercise as a robust add-on treatment for improving QoL and overall functioning (Dauwan et al, 2016), and with another study comparing effects of training combined with cognitive remediation in multi-episode SCZ patients versus healthy controls demonstrating positive effect on everyday functioning in patients (Malchow et al, 2015).…”

Working Memory Impairment as an Endophenotypic Marker in Patients with Schizophrenia: Failures in Encoding or Maintenance?

“…This result is expected since SZ generally affects the educational level of patients, which is also consistent with the percentage of unemployed patients at the time of the study (68%). Indeed, negative symptoms and years of education are strongly related to the illness, which has led to the proposal that the reduced educational level observed in patients may be viewed as a direct consequence of the disorder [21]. Including a control group with similar educational level and unemployment to eliminate the effect of these variables on the neuropsychological outcomes comprises an effective strategy from an experimental point of view.…”