C. Kelly et al., Nithsdale Schizophrenia Surveys 20 - Cognitive function in a catchment-area-based population of patients with schizophrenia, BR J PSYCHI, 177, 2000, pp. 348-353
Background Cognitive deficits are a core aspect of schizophrenia but there
has been no study of cognitive function in a catchment-area-based populatio
n of patients with schizophrenia.
Aims To assess cognitive function ina population of patients with schizophr
enia, and relate it to community functioning.
Method All patients with schizophrenia in Nithsdale, south-west Scotland, w
ere identified (n=182). Measures of assessment were: National Adult Reading
Test (NART), Mini-Menial State Examination (MMSE), Rivermead Behavioural M
emory Test(RBMT), Executive Interview (EXIT), FAS Verbal Fluency and Health
of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS).
Results We assessed 138 patients, mean age 48 years (standard deviation (s.
d.) 15). Only 14% were in-patients. The mean premorbid IQ as assessed by NA
RT was 98 (s.d. 14); 15% of patients had significant global cognitive impai
rment (MMSE); 81% had impaired memory (RBMT); 25% had executive dyscontrol
(EXIT); and 49% had impaired verbal fluency (FAS). Scores on the functional
impairment sub-scale of HoNOS correlated with all measures of cognitive im
pairment.
Conclusions Cognitive dysfunction is pervasive in a community-based populat
ion of patients with schizophrenia.