NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF NEGATIVE, DISORGANIZED AND PSYCHOTICSYMPTOMS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Recent studies suggest that three dimensions (negative, disorganized a nd psychotic) categorize schizophrenic symptoms. A developing literatu re indicates distinct cerebral correlates of each symptom cluster, but few investigations have determined their neuropsychological correlate s. In the present study, the Schedules of Negative and Positive Sympto ms measured symptom severity in 62 schizophrenics, and a subsequent pr incipal components analysis revealed three symptom dimensions. Factor scores, age and parental socio-economic status were simultaneously ent ered into regression equations to explain variance across a broad neur opsychological test battery. Negative symptoms were associated with de ficits involving intelligence, executive function, memory, sustained-a ttention and sensory-motor function, whereas disorganized symptoms cor related with decreased intelligence, attention-span and sensory-motor function. Psychotic symptoms were unrelated to deficits. These data ar e consistent with hypotheses that these three symptom dimensions have distinct neurobehavioral correlates. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.