Stability of performance on neuropsychological tests in patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

This study evaluated the stability of performance on neuropsychological tests in a group of 14 schizophrenic patients. These patients were first tested as inpatients and later on as outpatients. The patients' results are also compared with matched normal controls and with standardized norms. The patients' test results were stable over time and no change in performance was found for the patients as a group, suggesting that these aspects of the patients' functioning were of a trait quality. The patient group had significantly poorer results on a majority of the tests compared with the controls. The variation of the level of cognitive functioning among the patients, however, was great. In clinical practice today, neuropsychological examinations are often included in the diagnostic procedure, and their results also have impact on treatment planning. However, the possibility to generalize the findings is reduced as a consequence of the low number of patients in the study.

A prospective 2-year follow-up study of neurocognitive functioning in patients with first-episode schizophrenia

“…These findings agree with most previously published follow-up studies (Hoff et al, 1992;Rund et al 1993;Nopoulos et al 1994;DeLisi et al 1995, Rosmark et al 1999Hoff et al 1999;Heaton et al 2001). Marked cognitive impairment that is already present at the onset of illness is no indication of further deterioration after FE.…”

“…Follow-up studies after an acute episode of schizophrenia, of recent onset schizophrenia or FE schizophrenia, carried out so far, reported either stability of neuropsychological (NP) deficits (Bilder et al 1991;Hoff et al 1992; Rund et al 1997Rund et al , 1998Nopoulos et al 1994; Gold et al 1999;Hoff et al 1999; Rosmark et al 1999; Heaton et al 2001) or even improvement in motor functions, learning and memory (Bilder et al 1991), complex attention and executive functions (Nopoulos et al 1994) concentration, motor speed and overall global functioning (DeLisi et al 1995), free recall of memory test scores, flexibility of cognitive set and performance IQ (Gold et al 1999). These findings support a model of neurodevelopmental deficits and state-dependent NP deficits.…”

A Longitudinal Analysis of Memory in Patients with Schizophrenia

“…Only 2 of 13 studies, that have explored the temporal stability of memory function in schizophrenia, have found that aspects of memory worsen over time. Although Bilder et al (1991) reported that digit span and visual span declined over 12 months, these findings were not replicated in several other studies that also measured the same abilities (Addington et al, 1991;Heaton et al, 2001;Hoff et al, 1992;Rosmark et al, 1999;Rund & Landro, 1995;Rund et al, 1997;Sweeney et al, 1991). In addition, the finding by Albus et al (2002) that visual reproduction declined over a 24-month period is also not consistent with previous research (Gold et al 1999;Heaton et al 2001;Hoff et al, 1992;Nopopolous, 1994;Sweeney et al, 1991).…”

“…No change on other measures Rosmark et al (1999) 14 17 Months Visuo-spatial STM -Memory for designs (Graham and Kendall, 1960) Verbal memory -Verbal learning test and retention test (Claeson et al, 1971) No change Heaton et al (2001) 142 Annual assessment up to 10 years from baseline. Short term memory -Digit span (Wechsler, 1981) Visual memory -Figural Memory (test unspecified) Verbal memory -California Verbal Learning Test (Delis et al, 1983) Story Recall (test unspecified).…”

Adjuvant Aspirin Therapy Reduces Symptoms of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

“…No significant differences in changes in cognition were observed between groups. However, as cognitive functioning appears to be stable over time in schizophrenia 38 and current antipsychotics hardly improve these functions, 3 it may be difficult to actually alter these functions during a relatively short period.…”