Cognitive dysfunction and associated factors in patients with chronic schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Deficits in neurocognitive function are a hallmark of schizophrenia. They are associated with clinical manifestations and the course of the illness. A study of cognitive dysfunction in Indian patients with schizophrenia is of significance in view of a more benign course and outcome of the illness in this region. AIM: To study cognitive deficits and associated factors in patients with chronic schizophrenia and compare them with those in the normal population. METHODS: We compared 100 patients with chronic schizophrenia with 100 matched normal controls on multiple measures of attention, executive function and memory. RESULTS: Compared to normal individuals, patients with schizophrenia performed poorly in all cognitive tests. Cognitive deficits in patients were related to gender, education, age, duration of illness, and presence of positive and negative symptoms. CONCLUSION: The neurocognitive profile of Indian patients with chronic schizophrenia resembles those of patients in developed countries.