“A Cross Sectional Study Of The Neurocognitive Status And Disability Status Between First Episode And Multiple Episode Schizophrenia Patients”

BACKGROUND-: Cognitive deficits are known to be one of the core features of schizophrenia. Study shows that cognitive impairment was present in up to 75% of patients with schizophrenia. Deficits have been noted in attention/vigilance, processing speed, working memory, verbal learning and memory, visual learning and memory, problem solving and verbal comprehension. AIM-: To study neurocognitive status and disability status between first episode and multiple episode schizophrenia patients. METHODOLOGY: - 120 patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia were included after due consent and divided into two groups (first episode and multiple episode). Neurocognitive status was assessed by Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination III (ACE-III) and Subjective Scale to Investigate Cognition in Schizophrenia (SSTICS). Disability status was assessed using Indian Disability and Assessment Scale (IDEAS). Statistical analysis was done using MS Excel and SPSS software V. 20. Pearson’s correlation and Mann Whitney U test was used for analysis. P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULT-: It was found that memory score was significantly impaired in multiple episode patients as compared to first episode patients (U=300.5, p = 0.03) in (ACE-III). (SSTICS) score was better in first episode as compared to multiple episode which was statistically significant (U=979.5, p<0.01). The IDEAS score was significantly more in patients with first episode as compared to multiple episode (U=985.0, p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS –: It is concluded that greater neuro-cognitive impairment reported in patients with multiple episodes compared with first-episode patients. Hence, Exercises targeting all domains of neurocognition and insight building to be practiced regularly especially in chronic patients.