S10-02 - Is Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia Independent of Other Psychopathological Dimensions?

Abstract

Cognitive impairment (CI) is present in the majority of subjects with schizophrenia, is not an epiphenomenon of symptoms, is a risk factor for psychotic disorders and contributes to poor functional outcome. Most probably, in the near future clinicians will be faced with the need of assessing CI in order to complete the diagnostic work-up and to choose among treatment options aimed to target cognitive deficits.

In spite of the progress made by research in this field, relationships between cognitive impairment and other dimensions of schizophrenia remain controversial. On the one hand, empirical data show that CI is independent from psychopathological dimensions, on the other hand, significant associations between CI and negative symptoms have been frequently reported, and associations with positive symptoms or disorganization were also found, although less consistently. Reasons for discrepancies include differences between study samples, cognitive test batteries, medication status, variability of dimensions severity, but also the lack of adequate modelling of the investigated associations. In the presentation, the role of CI in cognitive accounts of psychopathological dimensions will be discussed, limitations of current research on the topic will be highlighted and directions for future research will be outlined.