Neuropsychological dysfunctions among chronic schizophrenia patients, alcohol dependence cases, and normal subjects: A comparative study

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the neuropsychological profiles of chronic schizophrenia and alcohol-dependent subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 30 chronic schizophrenia patients, 30 alcohol-dependent patients and 30-matched normal controls. Demographic and clinical data were collected on a self-designed pro forma. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ-C) were administered to chronic schizophrenia and alcohol-dependent patients, respectively. The AIIMS Comprehensive Neuropsychological Battery in Hindi (Adult Form) was used to assess neuropsychological dysfunctions. RESULTS: Neuropsychological dysfunctions were found in 83.3% of chronic schizophrenia patients, 36.7% alcohol dependents and none of the normal subjects. In comparison to normal subjects, schizophrenia patients had significantly more dysfunctions in neuropsychological-domains such as motor, tactile, visual, receptive and expressive speech, reading, writing, arithmetic, memory, and intellectual processes. A significant positive correlation was found between the PANSS total score and T scores of most of the clinical scales except motor and visual scales; the PANSS general psychopathology score and T scores of most of the clinical scales except motor visual and pathognomonic scales; the PANSS negative score and T scores of most of the clinical scales except visual scale; and the PANSS positive score and T scores of receptive speech, arithmetic, and memory scales. In comparison to normal subjects, the alcohol dependents had significantly more dysfunctions in neuropsychological-domains such as motor, tactile, visual, receptive and expressive speech, reading, writing, arithmetic, and memory. A significant positive correlation was found between the SADQ total scale and T scores of clinical scales such as expressive speech, writing, arithmetic, intellectual processes, left hemisphere, and total battery scales. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychological dysfunction was significantly more common and severe in chronic schizophrenia patients than in alcohol-dependent patients. In comparison to alcohol dependents, the chronic schizophrenia patients had more dysfunctions in neuropsychological-domains such as tactile, arithmetic, memory, and intellectual processes.