Episodic Memory in Schizophrenic Patients, their Biological Relatives and Normal People

Abstract

Introduction and aim:

In order to better understanding of the schizophrenia, the present study examines one of the most problem, memory impairments, specially episodic memory in schizophrenic patients, their biological relatives and comparison with normal people.

Method:

20 schizophrenic patients, 20 their biological relatives and 20 normal people were randomly selected and William's individual episodic memory test (WIEMT) was administered on them. in the research to the participants were presented 15 target words (5 pleasant, 5 unpleasant,5 neutral words). the participants were asked to recall a past memory associated with target words. ANOVA test was used to analyze the data.

Results:

Finding showed significant differences among groups. Majority of schizophrenics oriented to choose neutral and somewhat unpleasant stimuli (words) and recall their past memory with depressive and unpleasant theme and their relatives too. But majority of normal people choose the better and pleasant words with good and pleasant their past memory.

Discussion:

Our results reveal that deficits in episodic memory perception can be regarded one of the most prominent cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and should thus be taken seriously in both its diagnosis and treatment. So it stresses the importance of assessing memory function impairments in clinical settings. Also choosing the neutral (and not pleasant) stimuli (words) may cause tendency to depressed mood and it can impair social cognition in schizophrenia that may be an important predictor of social dysfunction.