The comparative study of cognitive functions between familial and sporadic patients with first-episode schizophrenia / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the difference in cognitive functions between first-episode schizophrenia pa-tients with and without family history. Methods One hundred twenty-seven patients with first-episode schizophrenia were recruited, including 40 patients with family history and 87 sporadic patients. Ninety-six matched normal subjects served as controls. Seven subscales of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised in China (WAIS-RC) were used to assess the cognitive functions of all subjects. Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) was used to assess patients ’ symptoms. The relationship between clinical symptoms and cognitive deficits was analyzed. Results There was no signifi-cant difference in the PANSS scores between familial patients and sporadic patients [(91.51±14.07) vs. (87.23±16.37), P>0.05]. The scores of full intelligence quotient (IQ), verbal IQ and operation IQ were lower in patient groups than in con-trol group (all P0.05). Conclusion The patients with schizophrenia have significant intelligence deficits in the early stages. Cognitive deficits are associated with the disease severity in sporadic patients while are independent of clinical symptoms in familial patients.