Neuropsychological (NP) functioning in first episode (FE) schizophrenia: A 2-year follow-up study (original) (raw)

This study investigates neuropsychological functioning in patients with first episode schizophrenia over a two-year follow-up period. By assessing cognitive domains such as memory, learning, and attention, it was found that patients exhibited persistent cognitive deficits, though some improvements were seen in verbal learning. The presence of negative symptoms and their influence on cognitive performance were also explored, with implications for predicting the development of a deficit syndrome. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of early cognitive assessment in the management of first episode schizophrenia.