Gait control and executive dysfunction in early schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Motor Control

Background:

• Dysexecutive functioning is a core feature of schizophrenia.
• Gait disorders are associated with dysexecutive functioning, but under-reported in schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between executive dysfunction and gait performance in recent-onset schizophrenia.
• To utilize the dual-task paradigm to assess gait in schizophrenia patients.

Main Methods:

• 17 recent-onset schizophrenia patients and 15 healthy controls participated.
• Executive functions assessed via Frontal Assessment Battery, Stroop, and Trail-Making tests.
• Temporal gait parameters (CV of stride time) measured during single and dual tasks (walking with counting or verbal fluency) using SMTEC®-footswitch system.

Main Results:

• Schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly higher stride-to-stride variability during dual-tasking compared to controls.
• Verbal fluency dual-tasking showed a stronger impact on gait regularity (Cohen's d = 1.28) than other dual tasks.
• The effect of dual-tasking on gait was insignificant during single-task walking.

Conclusions:

• Schizophrenia is associated with impaired gait control, particularly under cognitive load.
• Executive dysfunction directly impacts gait performance and coordination in schizophrenia patients.
• Findings support the notion that schizophrenia involves both cognitive and motor impairments.