[Subjective cognitive disorders in schizophrenia]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology

Context:

• Subjective cognitive disorders (SCD) are a significant aspect of schizophrenia, yet their relationship with objective information processing is not well understood.
• Existing research on SCD and information processing in schizophrenia is limited and presents conflicting findings.
• The psychometric properties of scales used to measure SCD require further investigation.

Purpose:

• To examine the current understanding of subjective cognitive disorders (SCD) in schizophrenia.
• To explore the relationship between SCD and information processing impairments.
• To propose a theoretical framework for SCD within the vulnerability/stress model of schizophrenia.

Summary:

• SCD in schizophrenia are hypothesized to stem from information processing deficits, though empirical evidence is scarce and contradictory.
• SCD scales demonstrate good reliability and validity, with the number of SCD correlating with female sex, lower education, and poorer insight.
• In acute schizophrenia, SCD associate with positive symptoms, potentially indicating disease activity; in remission, they relate to negative symptoms, reflecting cognitive deficits.

Impact:

• This review clarifies the role of SCD in schizophrenia, distinguishing their manifestation in acute versus remission phases.
• It highlights the need for further research into the link between subjective cognitive experiences and objective processing deficits.
• The proposed vulnerability/stress model integration offers a new perspective for understanding and potentially treating SCD in schizophrenia.