IMPROVEMENT IN COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND PSYCHIATRIC-SYMPTOMS IN TREATMENT-REFRACTORY SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS RECEIVING CLOZAPINE

Cognitive functions and psychopathology were assessed in 36 treatment- refractory schizophrenic patients before initiation of clozapine, and at 6 weeks and 6 months, thereafter. Before treatment, cognitive impai rment was found in each measure of memory, attention, and executive fu nction as compared with 26 normal controls. After both 6 weeks and 6 m onths of treatment, significant improvement occurred in the Controlled Oral Word Association Test, a measure of retrieval from reference mem ory. Improvement was also noted at 6 months in the Category Instance G eneration Test, another measure of retrieval from reference memory, an d in some, but not all, tests of executive function, attention, and re call memory. Clozapine treatment also resulted in significant improvem ent in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) Total and Positive sympto m scores at both 6-week and 6-month assessment points. There was some evidence for a relationship between improvement in psychopathology and cognitive function. The improvement in cognitive function during cloz apine treatment could have consequences for capacity to work and socia l function.