Cross-diagnostic analysis of loneliness and working memory deficits in youths with first-episode severe mental disorders

Few studies have investigated whether youth with first-episode severe mental disorders experience higher levels of loneliness than healthy people. The relationship between loneliness and working memory deficits in such patients has yet to be investigated.

In all, 25, 28, and 24 youth with first-episode schizophrenia, first-episode bipolar disorder, and first-episode major depression, respectively, and 32 healthy controls were enrolled. All participants fulfilled the self-reported UCLA Loneliness Scale and underwent a working memory task.

Patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder had higher levels of loneliness compared with the individuals in a control group. Youth with bipolar disorder and those with schizophrenia performed worse on the working memory task than the controls. We found a positive association between errors on the working memory task and loneliness levels.

Loneliness and working memory deficits appear to be cross-diagnostic phenomena in adolescents and young adults with first-episode severe mental disorders.