Impaired cue identification and intention retrieval underlie prospective memory deficits in patients with first-episode schizophrenia

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dengtang Liu ◽  
Chengfeng Ji ◽  
Kaiming Zhuo ◽  
Zhenhua Song ◽  
Yingchan Wang ◽  
...  

Objective: Schizophrenia is associated with impairment in prospective memory, the ability to remember to carry out an intended action in the future. It has been established that cue identification (detection of the cue event signaling that an intended action should be performed) and intention retrieval (retrieval of an intention from long-term memory following the recognition of a prospective cue) are two important processes underlying prospective memory. The purpose of this study was to examine prospective memory deficit and underlying cognitive processes in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Methods: This study examined cue identification and intention retrieval components of event-based prospective memory using a dual-task paradigm in 30 patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 30 healthy controls. All participants were also administered a set of tests assessing working memory and retrospective memory. Results: Both cue identification and intention retrieval were impaired in patients with first-episode schizophrenia compared with healthy controls ( ps < 0.05), with a large effect size for cue identification (Cohen’s d = 0.98) and a medium effect size for intention retrieval (Cohen’s d = 0.62). After controlling for working memory and retrospective memory, the difference in cue identification between patients and healthy controls remained significant. However, the difference in intention retrieval between the two groups was no longer significant. In addition, there was a significant inverse relationship between cue identification and negative symptoms ( r = −0.446, p = 0.013) in the patient group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that both cue identification and intention retrieval in event-based prospective memory are impaired in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Cue identification and intention retrieval could be potentially used as biomarkers for early detection and treatment prognosis of schizophrenia. In addition, addressing cue identification deficit through cognitive enhancement training may potentially improve negative symptoms as well.

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S102-S102
Author(s):  
Wenjun Su ◽  
Tianyuan Zhu ◽  
Lihua Xu ◽  
Yanyan Wei ◽  
Botao Zeng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background D-amino acid oxidase activator (DAOA) gene, which plays a key role in glutamatergic transmission and mitochondrial function, is frequently linked with the liability for schizophrenia. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the variation of DAOA rs2391191 could be associated with alterations in white matter integrity in first episode schizophrenia patients, and whether it influences the association between white matter integrity, cognitive function and clinical symptoms of schizophrenia. Methods Forty-six patients with first-episode schizophrenia and forty-nine sex, age and education-matched healthy controls underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and were genotyped for SNP DAOA rs2391191. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to delineate the major fiber tracts that showed significant group difference. Patients underwent pathophysiological assessments using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). Cognitive function assessments were performed by Chinese version of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Results Schizophrenia patients presented lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher radial diffusivity (RD) mainly spreading over corpus callosum and corona radiata compared with healthy controls (FWE-corrected p&lt;0.05). Compared with patients carrying G allele, patients with AA genotype showed lower FA in body of corpus callosum, and higher RD in genu of corpus callosum, right superior and anterior corona radiata, and left posterior corona radiata. But there were no significant FA or RD differences between two genotype groups in healthy controls. In patients carrying G allele, mean FA values in body of corpus callosum were positively correlated with working memory, mean RD values in genu of corpus callosum were negatively associated with speed of processing, working memory and composite score of MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), whilst there were no significant correlations found in AA homozygotes. Discussion Abnormal white matter integrity in corpus callosum and corona radiata were replicated among our sample of first episode schizophrenia. Genetic variation of DAOA rs2391191 was associated with this abnormality, with AA homozygotes showing less white matter integrity in corpus callosum. Our findings also suggested that rs2391191influenced the association between white matter integrity and cognitive function of schizophrenia patients. Such results might be due to the process of glutamatergic neurotransmission and mitochondrial function DAOA involves in as pinpointed by previous in vitro studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 873-882
Author(s):  
Christy Hogan ◽  
Petrea Cornwell ◽  
Jennifer Fleming ◽  
David H. K. Shum

AbstractObjective:Prospective memory (PM) is the memory used when intentions are to be carried out in the future. Little research has been conducted examining PM after stroke. This study aimed to determine if PM is impaired after stroke through comparison of individuals with stroke to healthy controls. Additionally, it aimed to explore the predictors of PM performance post-stroke.Method:Twenty-eight individuals with stroke and 27 neurologically healthy controls completed the Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (CAMPROMPT), 2 self-report PM questionnaires, and multiple cognitive measures.Results:Individuals with stroke performed significantly lower on both event- and time-based PM than controls on the CAMPROMPT, indicating PM impairment. Event-based PM after stroke was significantly predicted by age, retrospective memory (RM), and global cognitive function, whereas time-based PM was only predicted by the metacognitive skill of note-taking. Age and note-taking predicted time-based PM for controls, whereas only age predicted event-based PM for control participants.Conclusions:The findings of this study have helped to confirm that PM impairment does exist after stroke, particularly when using a standardised PM measure. Furthermore, PM impairment may be predicted by variables, such as age, strategy use, RM, and cognitive ability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine V. Barnes-Scheufler ◽  
Caroline Passow ◽  
Lara Rösler ◽  
Jutta S. Mayer ◽  
Viola Oertel ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Impaired working memory is a core cognitive deficit in both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Its study might yield crucial insights into the underpinnings of both disorders on the cognitive and neurophysiological level. Visual working memory capacity is a particularly promising construct for such translational studies. However, it has not yet been investigated across the full spectrum of both disorders. The aim of our study was to compare the degree of reductions of visual working memory capacity in patients with bipolar disorder (PBD) and patients with schizophrenia (PSZ) using a paradigm well established in cognitive neuroscience. Methods 62 PBD, 64 PSZ, and 70 healthy controls (HC) completed a canonical visual change detection task. Participants had to encode the color of four circles and indicate after a short delay whether the color of one of the circles had changed or not. We estimated working memory capacity using Pashler’s K. Results Working memory capacity was significantly reduced in both PBD and PSZ compared to HC. We observed a small effect size (r = .202) for the difference between HC and PBD and a medium effect size (r = .370) for the difference between HC and PSZ. Working memory capacity in PSZ was also significantly reduced compared to PBD with a small effect size (r = .201). Thus, PBD showed an intermediate level of impairment. Conclusions These findings provide evidence for a gradient of reduced working memory capacity in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, with PSZ showing the strongest degree of impairment. This underscores the importance of disturbed information processing for both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Our results are compatible with the cognitive manifestation of a neurodevelopmental gradient affecting bipolar disorder to a lesser degree than schizophrenia. They also highlight the relevance of visual working memory capacity for the development of both behavior- and brain-based transdiagnostic biomarkers.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yi-Bin Xi ◽  
Xu-Sha Wu ◽  
Long-Biao Cui ◽  
Li-Jun Bai ◽  
Shuo-Qiu Gan ◽  
...  

Background Neuroimaging- and machine-learning-based brain-age prediction of schizophrenia is well established. However, the diagnostic significance and the effect of early medication on first-episode schizophrenia remains unclear. Aims To explore whether predicted brain age can be used as a biomarker for schizophrenia diagnosis, and the relationship between clinical characteristics and brain-predicted age difference (PAD), and the effects of early medication on predicted brain age. Method The predicted model was built on 523 diffusion tensor imaging magnetic resonance imaging scans from healthy controls. First, the brain-PAD of 60 patients with first-episode schizophrenia, 60 healthy controls and 21 follow-up patients from the principal data-set and 40 pairs of individuals in the replication data-set were calculated. Next, the brain-PAD between groups were compared and the correlations between brain-PAD and clinical measurements were analysed. Results The patients showed a significant increase in brain-PAD compared with healthy controls. After early medication, the brain-PAD of patients decreased significantly compared with baseline (P < 0.001). The fractional anisotropy value of 31/33 white matter tract features, which related to the brain-PAD scores, had significantly statistical differences before and after measurements (P < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). Correlation analysis showed that the age gap was negatively associated with the positive score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale in the principal data-set (r = −0.326, P = 0.014). Conclusions The brain age of patients with first-episode schizophrenia may be older than their chronological age. Early medication holds promise for improving the patient's brain ageing. Neuroimaging-based brain-age prediction can provide novel insights into the understanding of schizophrenia.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (6) ◽  
pp. 516-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen M. Joyce ◽  
Sam B. Hutton ◽  
Stanley H. Mutsatsa ◽  
Thomas R. E. Barnes

BackgroundStudies of chronic schizophrenia suggest that there are subgroups with different profiles of cognitive impairment.AimsTo determine whether such heterogeneity is present at illness onset and any relationship to clinical variables.MethodNinety-three community patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 50 healthy volunteers were assessed for premorbid (Revised National Adult Reading Test) and current IQ, memory and executive function.ResultsHalf of those with schizophrenia had preserved IQ in the normal range but there was evidence of a specific impairment in spatial working memory even in those with high/average IQ; 37 out of 93 (40%) had generalised cognitive decline. Those with low premorbid IQ were significantly younger at illness onset. For the entire group, age at onset correlated positively with premorbid but not current IQ.ConclusionsAt illness onset, cognitive heterogeneity is present in people with schizophrenia, with a high proportion having undergone general cognitive decline. However, working memory impairment may be a common feature. Lower premorbid IQ is a risk factor for an earlier onset.


2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 1141-1146 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Whitty ◽  
M. Clarke ◽  
O. McTigue ◽  
S. Browne ◽  
M. Kamali ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe outcome of schizophrenia appears to be more favourable than once thought. However, methodological issues, including the reliance on diagnosis at first presentation have limited the validity of outcome studies to date.MethodWe conducted a first-episode follow-up study of 97 patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia over the first 4 years of illness. First presentation and follow-up assessments were compared using paired t tests and a forced-entry regression analysis was used to determine prognostic variables.ResultsThere were significant improvements in positive and negative symptoms and global assessment of functioning between first presentation and follow-up. At first presentation, fewer negative symptoms (t=−3.40, p<0.01), more years spent in education (t=3.25, p<0.01), and a shorter duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) (t=−2.77, p<0.01) significantly predicted a better outcome at follow-up.ConclusionsThe outcome of schizophrenia may not be as pessimistic as once thought and most patients did not display a downward deteriorating course of illness. This study supports the relationship between DUP and outcome beyond the early stages of illness.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaoling Sun ◽  
Linlin Zhao ◽  
Liwen Tan

Abstract Objective: Microstate analysis is a powerful tool to probe the brain functions, and changes in microstates under electroencephalography (EEG) have been repeatedly reported in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of EEG microstates in drug-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia (FE-SCH) and to test the relationship between EEG microstates and clinical symptoms.Methods: Resting-state EEG were recorded for 23 patients with FE-SCH and 23 healthy controls using a 64-channel cap. Three parameters, i.e., contribution, duration, and occurrence, of the four microstate classes were calculated. Group differences in EEG microstates and their clinical symptoms (assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) were analyzed.Results: Compared with healthy controls, patients with FE-SCH showed increased duration, occurrence and contribution of microstate class C and decreased contribution and occurrence of microstate class D. In addition, the score of positive symptoms in PANSS was negatively correlated with the occurrence of microstate D.Conclusions: Our findings showed abnormal patterns of EEG microstates in drug-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia, which might help distinguish individuals with schizophrenia in the early stage and develop early intervention strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Xiao Zhong ◽  
Qin Ao ◽  
Fei Xing

Objective. It has been reported that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in multiepisode patients with schizophrenia is 35.3%, which is 2- to 4-fold higher than in the general population. The study is designed to compare the glycolipid metabolism in patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) with sex- and age-matched healthy controls to investigate changes in serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and their relationships with the glycolipid metabolism in patients with FES. Methods. His case-control study included 88 patients diagnosed with FES and 88 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Patient psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17). Patients with FES were classified into MS and non-MS groups. Results. There were significant differences in the education level, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference between the patients with FES and healthy controls (all p > 0.05 ). The patients with FES had higher levels of FPG and blood glucose at the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (2 h glucose) concomitant with higher proportion of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) than healthy controls (all p < 0.001 ). It was revealed that the patients with FES showed higher serum levels of Hcy, MIF, and hs-CRP than healthy controls (all p < 0.001 ). The serum level of Hcy shared positive correlations with the score of PANSS totals (r = 0.551) and the negative syndrome of the PANSS scale (r = 0.494). The serum levels of MIF and hs-CRP was only positively correlated with the negative syndrome of the PANSS scale (r = 0.320 and r = 0.446). The level of Hcy shared positive correlations with the levels of FPG, 2 h glucose, and HOMA2-IR; the level of MIF was only positively correlated with the level of HOMA2-IR; the level of hs-CRP had a positive correlation with both levels of FPG and 2 h glucose (all p < 0.001 ). The levels of Hcy, MIF, and hs-CRP all shared positive correlations with the TG level and negative correlations with the HDL-C level (all p < 0.001 ). There were remarkable differences between the MS and non-MS groups with regard to BMI, waist circumference, negative subscale of the PANSS scale, FPG, TG, and HDL-C (all p < 0.05 ). Elevated levels of Hcy, MIF, and hs-CRP were detected in the MS group compared to the non-MS group (all p < 0.05 ). Conclusion. These findings suggest that increased concentrations of HCY, MIF, and hs-CRP may contribute to the abnormal glycolipid metabolism in the context of schizophrenia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Li ◽  
Xiaoduo Fan ◽  
Xiuxia Yuan ◽  
Lijuan Pang ◽  
Shaohua Hu ◽  
...  

Background: Butyric acid, a major short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), has an important role in the microbiota–gut–brain axis and brain function. This study investigated the role of butyric acid in treatment response in drug-naïve first episode schizophrenia.Methods: The study recruited 56 Chinese Han schizophrenia inpatients with normal body weight and 35 healthy controls. Serum levels of butyric acid were measured using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis at baseline (for all participants) and 24 weeks after risperidone treatment (for patients). Clinical symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for patients at both time points.Results: At baseline, there was no significant difference in serum levels of butyric acid between patients and healthy controls (p = 0.206). However, there was a significant increase in serum levels of butyric acid in schizophrenia patients after 24-week risperidone treatment (p = 0.030). The PANSS total and subscale scores were decreased significantly after 24-week risperidone treatment (p's &lt; 0.001). There were positive associations between baseline serum levels of butyric acid and the reduction ratio of the PANSS total and subscale scores after controlling for age, sex, education, and duration of illness (p's &lt; 0.05). Further, there was a positive association between the increase in serum levels of butyric acid and the reduction of the PANSS positive symptoms subscale scores (r = 0.38, p = 0.019) after controlling for potential confounding factors.Conclusions: Increased serum levels of butyric acid might be associated with a favorable treatment response in drug-naïve, first episode schizophrenia. The clinical implications of our findings were discussed.


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