Cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the profile of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

A

Global deficits from automatic sensory processing to higher cognitive functions, incl.
- sensory gating
- simple reaction time and processing speed
- attention
- verbal and visual learning and memory
- working memory
- executive functions
- social cognition
- intelligence

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2
Q

Describe the progression of cognitive deficits from premorbid phases across the illness.

A
  • ## The function decreases before the onset of psychosis (but around illness onset, before age 15): in the end of the premorbid phase –> predromal phase. After the onset of psychosis the function is at a plataeu (progressive phase) –> small increase with treatment
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3
Q

Describe the relation between cognitive deficits and psychopathology.

A
  • cognitive deficits are largely independent of clinical state
  • independent from positive symptoms, some correlation between cognition and negative symptoms
  • patients with comprehensive paranoid delusions generally have better cognitive functions
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4
Q

Describe the relation between cognitive deficits and functional outcome.

A

High premorbid function + late onset of first episode –> predictors of good illness course

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5
Q

Give examples of the heritability of cognitive functions and overlap with schizophrenia liability

A
  • The regions, connections and functions of the brain develop and mature are staggered, overlapping stages
  • parallel cognitive development and maturation
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6
Q

Describe the neurodevelopment of schizophrenia - how are neuroplasticity affecting the patients?

A

Some stages of brain development are characterized by more plasticity –> increased sensitivity to impact of both endogenous and environmental factors

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7
Q

Describe the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia.

A

Disturbed pruning process in gray matter and disturbed myelination of white matter –> extended period from birth until full ilness presentation

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8
Q

Describe the correlation between cognition and diagnosis in schizophrenia.

A
  • patients with results within the normal range have an estimated premorbid cognitive functional level 1 SD higher than healthy control with similar results
  • 96 % patients have lower cognitive scores than expected based on maternal education
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9
Q

Describe the severity of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

A
  • most domains between 1-1,5 SD below the norm
  • most common deficits: executive and attention
  • largest effect sizes: processing speed, and for some verbal memory
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