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Changes in cognitive function associated with syndrome changes on two five‐factor models of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
Author(s) -
Jerrell Jeanette M.,
Hrisko Stephanie
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2266
Subject(s) - positive and negative syndrome scale , neuropsychology , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychology , cognition , covariate , clinical psychology , psychiatry , antipsychotic , neuropsychological test , psychosis , statistics , mathematics
Objective This study aims to examine the association between neuropsychological function and symptom changes over time on two five‐factor models, pentagonal (PM) and Van der Gaag (VDG), of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and to determine the added value of these syndrome models for interpreting neuropsychological changes. Methods Data were collected in a randomized controlled trial comparing second‐generation and conventional antipsychotic medications for 108 adult patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and monitored prospectively for 12 months using standard neuropsychological instruments and the PANSS. Random‐effects regression was used to estimate the change over time in neuropsychological function and the association of PANSS covariates. Results Improvements in positive, negative, and cognitive syndromes were significant predictors of change on nine neuropsychological measures. The neuropsychological function was worsening on five of these measures. The PM model represented the best set of predictors examining positive and negative syndrome covariates, whereas the VDG model consistently represented the best predictors examining cognitive syndrome covariates. Conclusions The PM positive and negative syndrome factors and the VDG disorganized thoughts syndrome factor are differentially associated with changes in neuropsychological function over time. Clinical investigators may want to target their use of these factors from the PANSS according to the outcome variables being measured. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.