The Maudsley Early Onset Schizophrenia Study: Cognitive Function Over a 4-Year Follow-Up Period (original) (raw)

The Maudsley Early-Onset Schizophrenia Study: cognitive function in adolescent-onset schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Research, 2003

Generalized cognitive deficits have been consistently reported in adolescents with early onset schizophrenia (EOS; defined as onset before the age of 17 years). The impact on cognition of potential interactions between disease pathology and brain maturation remains unclear. We therefore compared cognitive function between 20 EOS patients and 20 healthy controls matched on age, gender, and parental socioeconomic status at 2 time points, when aged 15.58 (2.27) and after a mean interval of 4 6 1.08 years when aged 19.46 (2.21) years. Repeated measures analyses revealed no differences between patients and controls in the degree of change over this time period in general intellectual function and planning ability as measured by the Tower of London. There was deterioration in the verbal memory and attentional control index scores from the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised but relative improvement in Part A of the Trail Making Test. Patients' level of symptomatology as well as the type and dose of medication were comparable at both time points. We conclude that most aspects of cognitive function remain relatively stable in EOS patients during adolescence; there is evidence for deterioration in immediate verbal memory and attention while speed of information processing may show improvement.

Neurocognitive Proﬁle in Adolescents with Early-Onset Schizophrenia: Clinical Correlates

Background: Neurocognitive impairments have been documented in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia (EOS; onset by age 18) and are important treatment targets. Information concerning the severity, pattern, and clinical correlates of these deficits in EOS remains limited. Methods: Tests assessing motor skills, attention, memory, visuospatial abilities and executive functioning were administered to 54 clinically stabilized adolescents with EOS and 52 age-and sex-matched healthy controls. Childhood-onset patients (onset by age 13) were compared to those with an adolescent onset of illness. Patients' neurocognitive profiles were compared to those of controls. Relationships between neurocognitive deficits and demographic and clinical characteristics were explored. Results: Neurocognitive profiles did not differ between childhood-and adolescent-onset participants. Patients showed a generalized neurocognitive deficit of 2.0 SDs compared to controls, with relative deficit in executive functioning and relative sparing of language and visuospatial abilities. Degree of generalized neurocognitive impairment was associated with premorbid adjustment and negative symptom severity (Adjusted R 2 ϭ .39). Conclusions: Results document both a significant generalized deficit and a relative deficit of executive functioning in adolescents with EOS. The overall pattern is similar to that observed in severely ill first-episode adult patients. The impairments across multiple neurocognitive domains suggest widespread brain dysfunction in EOS.

Trajectories of cognitive development during adolescence among youth at-risk for schizophrenia

Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 2018

Among adults with schizophrenia, evidence suggests that premorbid deficits in different cognitive domains follow distinct developmental courses during childhood and adolescence. The aim of this study was to delineate trajectories of adolescent cognitive functions prospectively among different groups of youth at-risk for schizophrenia, relative to their typically developing (TD) peers. Using linear mixed models adjusted for sex, ethnicity, parental occupation and practice effects, cognitive development between ages 9 and 16 years was compared for youth characterised by a triad of well-replicated developmental antecedents of schizophrenia (ASz; N = 32) and youth with a least one affected relative with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (FHx; N = 29), relative to TD youth (N = 45). Participants completed measures of IQ, scholastic achievement, memory and executive function at three time-points, separated by approximately 24-month intervals. Compared to TD youth, both ASz and FHx...

Braw 2007- Cognition in Young Schizophrenia Outpatients

Cognitive impairments are recognized as a central feature of schizophrenia (SZ), largely independent of other symptoms, and a major cause of poor functioning. Studies indicate cognitive deterioration in the first years after the onset of SZ. These studies, however, have been criticized for using a small sample size, for having limited monitoring of confounding variables, and for the inclusion of cohorts of different ages. The current study compared the cognitive profile of first-episode schizophrenia patients, multiepisode schizophrenia patients and healthy controls (n 5 44, n 5 39, and n 5 44; respectively). The study focused on the early stages of the disorder, recruiting only young patients. All subjects underwent an extensively validated computerized cognitive assessment (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery). The results revealed widespread cognitive impairments in SZ patients, compared with healthy control subjects. The multiepisode SZ patients were significantly more impaired than the firstepisode ones, with deficits mainly related to psychomotor speed, pattern memory, and executive functioning. The functioning in other cognitive domains (ie, attention and spatial memory) was deficient even at an early stage of the disorder. These findings can help clarify the course of cognitive decline in young-aged SZ patients and aid in the development of phase-appropriate interventions.

Cognition in Young Schizophrenia Outpatients: Comparison of First-Episode With Multiepisode Patients

Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2007

Cognitive Impairment in Adolescents With Schizophrenia

American Journal of Psychiatry, 1997

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether adolescent schizophrenia is characterized by neuropsychological deficits. Method: The performance on a battery of neuropsychological tests of 17 adolescents with schizophrenia (mean age=15.71 years) was compared with that of 17 normal adolescents (mean age=15.12 years). Results: Compared with the normal subjects, the patients were impaired on 10 of the 13 measures; larger effect sizes were shown for measures involving working memory and attention than for those involving secondary memory, generative naming, and executive functions. Conclusions: Adolescents with schizophrenia have generalized cognitive dysfunction, which is most apparent on tests of attention and working memory.

The Maudsley Early Onset Schizophrenia Study: Cognitive Function Over a 4-Year Follow-Up Period (original) (raw)

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