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. 2000 Oct:177:348-53.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.177.4.348.

Nithsdale Schizophrenia Surveys. 20. Cognitive function in a catchment-area-based population of patients with schizophrenia

C Kelly  1 , V Sharkey, G Morrison, J Allardyce, R G McCreadie
Affiliations

Nithsdale Schizophrenia Surveys. 20. Cognitive function in a catchment-area-based population of patients with schizophrenia

C Kelly et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2000 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Cognitive deficits are a core aspect of schizophrenia but there has been no study of cognitive function in a catchment-area-based population of patients with schizophrenia.

Aims: To assess cognitive function in a population of patients with schizophrenia, and relate it to community functioning.

Method: All patients with schizophrenia in Nithsdale, south-west Scotland, were identified (n = 182). Measures of assessment were: National Adult Reading Test (NART), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT), Executive Interview (EXIT), FAS Verbal Fluency and Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS).

Results: We assessed 138 patients, mean age 48 years (standard deviation (s.d.) 15). Only 14% were in-patients. The mean premorbid IQ as assessed by NART was 98 (s.d. 14); 15% of patients had significant global cognitive impairment (MMSE); 81% had impaired memory (RBMT); 25% had executive dyscontrol (EXIT); and 49% had impaired verbal fluency (FAS). Scores on the functional impairment sub-scale of HoNOS correlated with all measures of cognitive impairment.

Conclusions: Cognitive dysfunction is pervasive in a community-based population of patients with schizophrenia.

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