Cognitive Changes in Schizophrenia Over One Year
Author Information
Author(s): Jennifer H Barnett, Tim J Croudace, Sue Jaycock, Candice Blackwell, Fiona Hynes, Barbara J Sahakian, Eileen M Joyce, Peter B Jones
Primary Institution: University of Cambridge
Hypothesis
The study aimed to investigate whether there is stability, improvement, or decline in cognitive function in schizophrenia over one year.
Conclusion
Cognitive change is present in schizophrenia, but the magnitude of change is small compared to the large differences in cognitive function that exist between patients.
Supporting Evidence
- There was significant decline in spatial recognition but no change in pattern recognition or motor speed.
- Improvement was seen in planning and spatial working memory tasks.
- Patients on first-generation drugs improved more quickly on the planning task.
Takeaway
People with schizophrenia can get a little better or worse at thinking over a year, but the changes are usually small.
Methodology
The study used a longitudinal design with four cognitive assessments over one year, employing latent growth modeling to analyze cognitive changes.
Potential Biases
The sample was not randomly selected, which may introduce selection bias.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and significant attrition, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 17 women and 41 men, with a mean age of 41.9 years and a range of 22 to 67 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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