Cross-sectional study comparing cognitive function in treatment responsive versus treatment non-responsive...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Antipsychotic treatment resistance affects 70-84% of schizophrenia patients from the first episode.
• Emerging evidence suggests potential cognitive differences, particularly in verbal memory and language, between treatment-resistant and treatment-responsive schizophrenia.
• This study aimed to validate these findings by comparing cognitive performance in antipsychotic non-responders (NR) versus responders (R).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare cognitive performance between antipsychotic non-responders (NR) and responders (R) in schizophrenia.
• To specifically investigate differences in verbal memory and language functions using a brief cognitive battery.
• To determine if cognitive profiles differ based on antipsychotic treatment response.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 106 participants (52 NR, 54 R) aged 18-65 with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder.
• Cognitive performance was assessed using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS).
• Univariable and multivariable linear regressions, adjusted for age, gender, and illness duration, were used to analyze group differences.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in cognitive performance were found between the antipsychotic responder (R) and non-responder (NR) groups on any BACS measures.
• Specifically, verbal memory (ß=-1.99, p=0.398) and verbal fluency (ß=1.23, p=0.510) showed no significant group differences in univariable models.
• These findings remained consistent in multivariable regression analyses.

Conclusions:

• The lack of cognitive differences between groups may stem from insufficient clinical distinction between responders and non-responders in this sample.
• Future research should employ machine learning on longitudinal, first-episode schizophrenia samples.
• Identifying responder subtypes and their interaction with cognitive factors is crucial for advancing schizophrenia treatment.