Relative Sparing of Executive Functions in the Early Phase of Schizophrenia

Abstract

Findings about the impairment of executive functions in schizophrenia are not conclusive. The authors hypothesized that the severity of the impairments in the abilities that comprise EF might be different. Forty patients were assessed with a comprehensive battery that included four measures of executive functions and were compared with 60 healthy subjects. Set shifting and response inhibition showed no significant between-group differences. Mental flexibility and concept formation were significantly worse in patients, but the effect sizes were small. Some executive functions might be relatively spared, at least in the early phase of schizophrenia. Studies on individual executive functions may yield more replicable findings.

Cognitive Features of High-Functioning Adults with Autism and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

“…Önceki çalışma-mızda ayrıntılı olarak anlatıldığı gibi (Atbaşoğlu ve ark. 2003, Atbaşoğlu ve ark. 2005, klinik dışı kontrol grubuna 2002 yılında gazete ilanı ile ulaşılmıştır ve bu çalışmanın iki yazarı tarafından çalışmaya alınmadan önce major psikiyatrik bozukluklar ve zeka geriliği açısından değerlendirilmiş kişilerdir.…”

Schizophrenia as a diagnosis of exclusion

“…The persistent finding was the replication of Saykin's (8) original research, one of the best designed and reliable studies in the field: Moderate decline in sustained attention (vigilance), executive functions and short-term memory (learning) (8). This profile was in the context of generalized deficits with smaller effect sizes (9,10).…”