WORKING AND STRATEGIC MEMORY DEFICITS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Working memory and its contribution to performance on strategic memory tests in schizophrenia were studied. Patients (n = 18) and control pa rticipants (it = 15), all men, received tests of immediate memory (for ward digit span), working memory (listening, computation, and backward digit span), and long-term strategic (free recall, temporal order, an d self-ordered pointing) and nonstrategic (recognition) memory. Schizo phrenia patients performed worse on all tests. Education. verbal intel ligence, and immediate memory capacity did not account for deficits in working memory in schizophrenia patients. Reduced working memory capa city accounted for group differences in strategic memory but not in re cognition memory. Working memory impairment may be central to the prof ile of impaired cognitive performance in schizophrenia and is consiste nt with hypothesized frontal lobe dysfunction associated with this dis ease. Additional medial-temporal dysfunction may account for the recog nition memory deficit.