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Subjective and objective neuropsychological abnormalities in a psychosis prodrome clinic
Martin Hambrecht1, Michael Lammertink, Joachim Klosterkötter
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Germany. hambrecht.martin@krankenhaus-elisabethenstift.de
Background:
Predicting transitions to psychosis is difficult. Neuropsychology might facilitate predictions.
Aims:
To report preliminary data on self-perceived and objectively measurable neurocognition in prodromal patients of the first German early recognition centre.
Method:
Subjective neuropsychological disturbances were assessed in 51 patients with potentially prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia. Initial neurocognitive functioning was compared with matched normals and patients with schizophrenia.
Results:
Self-perceived deficits mostly concerned perception, cognition and stress reactivity. Five transitions happened during the 15-month follow-up. Recently emerging or intensifying deficits were to some extent predictive of transition. Persons at risk performed worse than controls on objectively measured verbal capacity, attention and memory functions.
Conclusions:
Neuropsychological deficits, either self-perceived or objectively measured, characterise persons at risk for schizophrenia and may contribute to predicting transitions.