Cognitive - perceptual deficits and symptom correlates in first - episode schizophrenia

• Published in: The South African journal of psychiatry Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Olivier, Riaan M., Kidd, Martin, Oosthuizen, Petrus P., Kilian, Sanja, Chiliza, Bonginkosi, Emsley, Robin, Asmal, Laila
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa AOSIS 01.01.2017; African Online Scientific Information Systems (Pty) Ltd t/a AOSIS
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Cognition disorders; Diagnosis; Original Research; Patient outcomes; Schizophrenia; South Africa
• ISSN: 1608-9685; 2078-6786
• DOI: 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v23i0.1049

Background: Thought disorder and visual-perceptual deficits have been well documented, but their relationships with clinical symptoms and cognitive function remain unclear. Cognitive-perceptual deficits may underscore clinical symptoms in schizophrenia patients. Aim: This study aimed to explore how thought disorder and form perception are related with clinical symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in first-episode schizophrenia. Setting: Forty-two patients with a first-episode of schizophrenia, schizophreniform or schizoaffective disorder were recruited from community clinics and state hospitals in the Cape Town area. Methods: Patients were assessed at baseline with the Rorschach Perceptual Thinking Index (PTI), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the MATRICS Cognitive Consensus Battery (MCCB). Spearman correlational analyses were conducted to investigate relationships between PTI scores, PANSS factor analysis-derived domain scores and MCCB composite and subscale scores. Multiple regression models explored these relationships further. Results: Unexpectedly, poor form perception (X- %) was inversely correlated with the severity of PANSS positive symptoms (r = -0.42, p = 0.02). Good form perception (XA%) correlated significantly with speed of processing (r = 0.59, p