Impairment of consciously controlled use of memory in schizophrenia

Recent studies of memory in schizophrenia have shown that explicit but not implicit memory performance is impaired. The hypothesis that schizophenia i s associated with a failure of consciously but not unconsciously (automatic ) controlled influence of memory on performance was tested using a procedur e providing uncontaminated estimates of consciously controlled and automati c memory processes (i.e., the process-dissociation procedure in a stem comp letion task). Performance of 35 patients with schizophrenia was compared wi th that of 35 normal participants. Consciously controlled use but not autom atic influences of memory war significantly lower in patients with schizoph renia than in controls. Consciously controlled use of memory was negatively and significantly correlated with positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Schi zophrenia differentially affects 2 types of memory processes: It impairs co nsciously controlled use of memory but spares automatic influences. Positiv e symptoms could reflect the lack of control from higher level conscious pr ocesses.