VERBAL MEMORY IMPAIRMENT IN SCHIZOPHRENIA - NO SPARING OF SHORT-TERM RECALL

Verbal memory function was assessed in 27 schizophrenic patients and 1 9 healthy control subjects matched for premorbid IQ and age using a te st battery comprising measures of short-term, long-term and source mem ory. Patients were also rated for positive and negative symptoms. Resu lts indicated that the patient group evinced poorer performance on all tests of short-term memory, and most tests of long-term memory, and t hat these differences remained when current IQ was introduced as a cov ariate. Within the patient group, overall verbal memory performance wa s associated only with a negative symptoms. Results are discussed in t he context of a generalised neuropsychological deficit in schizophreni a.