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Cognitive functioning in first episode psychosis. Gender differences and relation with clinical variables.
Regina Vila-Badia1, Núria Del Cacho1, Anna Butjosa2
1Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Teaching, Research & Innovation Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain.
Early Intervention in Psychiatry
|December 28, 2020
Summary
First episode psychosis patients exhibit impaired cognitive functioning across all domains compared to healthy individuals. Symptom severity and antipsychotic dosage significantly impact cognition, highlighting targets for rehabilitation programs.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive deficits are a core feature of psychosis, impacting daily functioning.
- Understanding factors influencing cognition in early psychosis is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cognitive functioning between first episode psychosis (FEP) patients and healthy controls (HC).
- To investigate the influence of symptoms, cannabis use, chlorpromazine dose, duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), and IQ on cognitive performance in FEP patients, stratified by gender.
Main Methods:
- 70 FEP patients and 63 HC were assessed using the MATRICS battery and WAIS-IV Vocabulary subtest.
- FEP patient symptoms were evaluated using the Emsley factors of the PANSS scale.
Main Results:
- FEP patients demonstrated significantly lower scores than HC across all cognitive domains.
- No significant gender differences in cognitive performance were observed in the FEP group.
- In the HC group, women outperformed men in processing speed, working memory, and overall composite scores.
- Symptoms and chlorpromazine dose significantly influenced cognitive performance in the total FEP sample.
- Positive symptoms appeared more detrimental to women's cognition, while disorganized symptoms affected men's cognition.
Conclusions:
- FEP patients exhibit widespread cognitive impairments compared to HC.
- Gender did not appear to influence cognitive performance in the FEP sample.
- Symptom severity and chlorpromazine dosage are key factors influencing cognitive performance in FEP and should be considered in cognitive rehabilitation strategies.
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