STABILITY IN COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTIONS IN SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

The purpose of the present study was to classify cognitive dysfunction s in schizophrenic subjects according to a trait/state model. A sample of 15 patients was examined on 10 different cognitive measures in two distinctly different phases: an acute psychotic state and partial rem ission. To determine the degree of dysfunction at the two stages of il lness, the schizophrenic patients were also compared to 14 non-psychia tric controls. Six of the 10 measures examined can be classified as co gnitive deficits in schizophrenics. Four measures are possibly trait-d ependent components: two backward masking scores and two long-term mem ory measures. A short-term memory measure is the only one that can be classified as an episode-linked factor. The other cognitive deficits f ound can be characterized as mediating vulnerability factors, i.e. the y are more prominent in the acute psychotic state, but do not complete ly disappear during remission states. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Irelan d Ltd.