Cognitive function in early psychosis patients from a low-income country

Abstract

Background

Cognitive impairments are well established findings in schizophrenia and are associated with significant impairment of social functioning. Episodic memory, working memory and executive function test scores are typically 1 standard deviation below healthy controls. There are reports suggesting the presence of neurocognitive deficits prior to illness onset, opening the possibility of using cognitive profiles as disease markers. Interest in exploring cognitive functioning in early stages schizophrenia has continued to grow, as earlier treatments could possibly lead to improved outcomes.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional assessment of cognitive profiles in patients with early psychosis. A total of 51 patients suffering from psychosis in the age group of 18–65 years were recruited and matched with 51 healthy controls. A wide range of neurocognitive domains were assessed using standardised neuropsychological tests.

Results

There was evidence of statistically significant impairments in cognitive functioning across a broad range of cognitive domains in early-psychosis patients, as compared to healthy controls. More pronounced deficits were seen in executive function tests.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first study to report cognitive deficits across a range of domains in patients with first episode psychosis from a low-income country. This study found deficits across multiple domains, including language, memory, attention, executive function, and visuospatial function in patients with early psychosis. Evidence of neuropsychological deficits in the early course of the disease may highlight crucial therapeutic windows for both pharmacological treatments and cognitive rehabilitation. This may improve functional outcomes in this patient group in the longer term.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.