Early Trauma and Cognitive Functions of Patients With Schizophrenia

Conclusion: Although a cause–effect relationship cannot be firmly stated, an association between early trauma experience and cognitive impairment such as visual memory, as well as a relationship between negative symptoms and attention domains, is suggested by our preliminary findings. Future studies with larger sample sizes and prospective design will clarify the long-term effects of early exposure to trauma and its clinical meaning in terms of developing psychotic-related illness.IntroductionMore than 75% of patients with schizophrenia show some level of cognitive impairment, leading to poor functional status and impairments in social interaction. Therefore, when there is an improvement in cognition and executive function, there is also an improvement in quality of life, social interactions, and treatment outcomes (1).Thus, cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia may be related to the illness itself and to endophenotypes, with cognitive profiles indicating traits, which can be developed later on the course of the illness (2). This hypothesis has been supported by studies showing an overlap between cognitive deficits between SZ patients and their relatives. Patients with schizophrenia show a lower performance in neuropsychological tests when compared to both healthy controls and siblings. In addition, overlapping cognitive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and their siblings seem to appear, with the latter exhibiting milder cognitive impairment, incl...
Source: Frontiers in Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research