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Neuropsychological dysfunction in schizophrenia. Relation to associative thought disorder
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|June 1, 1985
Summary
Neuropsychologically impaired individuals with schizophrenia exhibit slower reaction times and greater associative disturbance, particularly in nonverbal tasks. This finding suggests a link between cognitive deficits and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Cerebral atrophy and cognitive deficits are linked to negative schizophrenic symptoms.
- Negative symptoms include poverty of speech and reduced speech content.
- Associative thought disorder is a key feature in schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between neuropsychological dysfunction and associative thought disorder in schizophrenia.
- To compare associative disturbance in neuropsychologically impaired versus intact schizophrenic groups.
- To determine if cognitive deficits predict the severity of associative disturbance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery for assessment.
- Compared two groups of schizophrenics: 20 neuropsychologically intact and 12 impaired.
- Administered a continuous word-association test with verbal and nonverbal measures.
Main Results:
- Neuropsychologically impaired schizophrenics showed slower reaction times (p < .05).
- No significant differences were found in verbal measures of associative disturbance.
- A stronger association was observed between neuropsychological functions and nonverbal dimensions (p < .02).
Conclusions:
- Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are more strongly related to nonverbal associative disturbance than verbal.
- Challenges the assumption of left hemisphere abnormality being solely linked to cognitive disturbance in schizophrenia.
- Suggests that neuropsychologically impaired schizophrenics may have a higher potential for developing negative symptoms.