The clinical neuropsychology of schizophrenia
Impairments in a variety of cognitive functions are found in patients with schizophrenia. These impairments affect a wide array of different cognitive abilities and are often quite severe, when compared to standards based on healthy individuals of the same age, education levels, and gender. Cognitive impairments appear to be present across the lifespan, detectable at the time of the first treatment episode, if not before, and to manifest a generally stable course over time. Although the current knowledge base regarding cognition in schizophrenia is quite broad, additional research information is constantly accruing. The main purpose of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of the domains, severity, and course of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia, with a focus on functional relevance and treatment possibilities.