ASSESSMENT OF THE DYSEXECUTIVE SYNDROME IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Background. Cognitive neuropsychological theories hypothesize a role f or frontal lobe executive deficits in the aetiology of schizophrenic s ymptoms. The study examined the performance of a schizophrenic group o n the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS; Wilso n Et al. 1996), a test battery which assesses the 'everyday' difficult ies associated with the dysexecutive syndrome. Performance of the schi zophrenics was contrasted with that of brain injured and healthy volun teer groups. Methods. Matched groups of 31 schizophrenic patients, 35 patients with brain injuries and 26 healthy volunteers were administer ed the BADS. Patients were also given tests of general intelligence an d memory. Patients and their relatives/carers also completed a questio nnaire rating day-to-day failures of executive functioning. Results. S chizophrenic and brain-injured patients showed impairment on the BADS, compared to healthy controls. There were no significant differences b etween the two patient groups. Significant impairment was found in a s ubgroup of 16 schizophrenics who showed otherwise intact general intel lectual functioning, suggesting the existence of a specific executive deficit. Among the schizophrenic patient group there was evidence of a dissociation between executive and memory impairments. A significant correlation existed between performance on the BADS and relatives rati ngs of executive problems for the brain injured group, but not for the schizophrenic group. Conclusions. The BADS is a useful tool for ident ifying executive deficits in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, especially those who are otherwise generally intellectually intact. T his is particularly important in the context of rehabilitation and com munity transition programmes.