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Neuropsychological functions predict 1‐ and 3‐year outcome in first‐episode psychosis
Author(s) -
Carlsson R.,
Nyman H.,
Ganse G.,
Cullberg J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00661.x
Subject(s) - wechsler adult intelligence scale , neurocognitive , global assessment of functioning , neuropsychology , psychology , brief psychiatric rating scale , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychosis , psychiatry , rating scale , clinical psychology , intelligence quotient , psychometrics , cognition , developmental psychology
Objective: To examine neuropsychological performance as a possible predictor of course and outcome in first‐episode psychotic (FEP) patients. Method: A group of consecutive FEP patients ( n = 120) tested with Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales‐Revised (WAIS‐R) at baseline was compared with a healthy group ( n = 30) matched for age, education and gender. Relationship between WAIS‐R and both Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Global Assessment of Function (GAF) ratings were studied at baseline and at 1‐ and 3‐year follow‐ups. Results: The performance of FEP patients was significantly lower ( P < 0.001) than that of healthy comparison subjects on all WAIS‐R subtests except for Information and Comprehension. The WAIS‐R scores of patients with schizophrenia syndromes (DSM‐IV) were lower than those of patients with non‐schizophrenia syndromes on Block Design. Low WAIS‐R Full‐Scale IQ scores in FEP patients predicted the presence of negative symptoms at 1‐year follow‐up and of low GAF ratings at 3‐year follow‐up. Conclusion: Neurocognitive performance at admission appears to predict various aspects of functional outcome in FEP.