California Verbal Learning Test practice effects in a schizophrenia sample

Practice effects on the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT; >Delis et al., 1987), a measure of new learning and memory, were evaluated in a sample of patients with schizophrenia who were administered the CVLT at baseline, week 10, and week 14 in the context of a study of the effects of a non-pharmacological intervention on psychiatric status. Large effects attributable to prior exposure to the test were evident at weeks 10 and 14. These effects indicate that caution must be exercised in interpreting serial performances on this commonly used test, whether in research or clinical circumstances. Additionally, although the exact nature of the learning involved is unclear, the influence of prior exposure on later performance reveals considerable retention over time of new information in this sample of persons with schizophrenia.