P03-31 - Demographic Factors and Neuropsychological Tests Solutions in Schizophrenia Subjects

Abstract

Introduction

Schizophrenia is very common, chronic illness affects 1% of population. Cognition dysfunctions are considered as important factors of social and general life impairment. There are many unchangeable risk factors of cognition decline in schizophrenia subjects such as age, duration of illness, and sex.

Aim

The aim of study were to examined correlations among age, sex, education, duration of illness and scores in neuropsychological tests.

Methods

In our study 220 subjects (116 male, and 104 female) in mean age 41 ± 11,3 with diagnosis of schizophrenia were examined with battery of computerized neuropsychological tests: simple reaction test (SRT), verbal memory test (VMT) and delayed verbal memory test (VMDT), visual working memory test (VWMT). Mean duration of illness was 12 years (min 1 year; max 41 years). Mean duration of education was 11,5 years (min 6 years; max 18 years)

Results

1. 1) Age was correlated with worse scores in every parameters of all tests.

2. 2) Females got lower correct answers and longer reaction time (815 vs. 630 ms) in SRT, remember fewer words in VMT and cards (3,9 vs.4,3) in VWMT.

3. 3) Longer duration of education was correlated with better results in every parameters of all tests except number of correct answers in SRT,

4. 4) Longer duration of illness was correlated with worse scores in SRT, better scores in VMT, VMDT and VWMT.

Conclusions

Cognition decline in schizophrenia is connected not only with factors related with illness. Demographic factors, mostly unchangeable, are take important rule in cognition functioning.