Impact of avolition and cognitive impairment on functional outcome in first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorder: a prospective one-year follow-up study

Abstract

Previous research investigating the relationships between avolition, cognition and functioning in schizophrenia mostly focused on chronic samples and were cross-sectional in design. Impacts of avolition and cognition on longitudinal functional outcome in first-episode patients are under-studied. We assessed 114 Chinese aged 18-55 years presenting with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorder aiming to identify baseline predictors of 1-year functional outcome. Results showed that both avolition and global cognition independently predicted functioning, with avolition being the strongest predictor above and beyond cognition and other symptom dimensions. Our findings indicate the central role of in determining longitudinal functional status in the early illness stage.

Keywords: First episode psychosis; Functioning; Motivational impairment; Negative symptoms.