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. 2021 Aug;15(4):966-974.
doi: 10.1111/eip.13042. Epub 2020 Sep 18.

Relationship of negative symptom severity with cognitive symptoms and functioning in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Alp Üçok  1 , Nese Direk  2 , Hatice Kaya  3 , Nuran Çağlar  1 , Uğur Çıkrıkçılı  4 , Handan Noyan  5 , Çağdaş Yokuşoğlu  6 , Müge Devrim-Üçok  7
Affiliations

Relationship of negative symptom severity with cognitive symptoms and functioning in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Alp Üçok et al. Early Interv Psychiatry. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Aim: Negative symptoms and cognition are related with functioning in schizophrenia. However, it is not clear whether they have a similar effect in individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis. In this study, we aimed to explore relationship of negative symptoms with cognition and functioning cross-sectionally in people with UHR for psychosis.

Methods: In total, 107 people participated in this study. We assessed negative symptoms with Scale for Negative Symptoms (SANS). We applied a cognitive battery including seven tests. We evaluated functioning by using Global Assessment of Functioning Scale and work/study status as an indicator of role functioning.

Results: SANS scores were correlated to global functioning cross-sectionally. SANS total score was correlated to cognitive test scores related to cognitive flexibility and attention. Only Trail Making Test B (TMT B) was negatively correlated to global functioning. SANS-affective blunting and SANS-avolition scores were independently related to global functioning. There was a significant indirect effect of the TMT B and composite attention scores on global functioning through negative symptoms indicating a complete mediation.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that negative symptoms, particularly avolition have an impact on functioning and the association of cognition with functioning was mediated by negative symptoms in UHR.

Keywords: cognition; functioning; negative symptoms; ultra-high risk for psychosis.

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References

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