Differentiating cortical patterns of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder
Cherrie A Galletly1, Alexander C McFarlane, Richard Clark
1Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Elanor Harrald Building, Frome Rd, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia. cherrie.galletly@adelaide.edu.au
Psychiatry Research
|April 22, 2008
Summary
Cognitive impairments in schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) show distinct patterns. This research highlights specific neurophysiological differences in working memory dysfunction between these mental illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive impairments are common in psychiatric disorders, but their specificity remains unclear.
- Working memory dysfunction is a key feature in both schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cognitive dysfunction patterns in schizophrenia and PTSD.
- To identify specific event-related potential (ERP) markers differentiating these disorders.
Main Methods:
- Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 16 subjects in each of three groups: schizophrenia, PTSD, and controls.
- A 27-electrode array was used during a working memory auditory target detection task.
Main Results:
- Both schizophrenia and PTSD groups exhibited impaired task performance, with schizophrenia showing greater deficits.
- Schizophrenia was associated with reduced N1 amplitude, while PTSD showed increased target N2 amplitude and latency.
- Both groups had reduced P3 amplitude; schizophrenia showed reduced non-target parietal P3, and PTSD showed reduced target P3 over the left posterior parietal region.
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia and PTSD exhibit distinct patterns of cognitive dysfunction.
- Specific ERP differences in N1, N2, and P3 components can help differentiate between schizophrenia and PTSD.
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