Cognitive Inflexibility and Pre-frontal Dysfunction in Schizophrenia and Mania

1990 ◽  
Vol 157 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney Morice

The ability to shift cognitive set, which is probably subserved, at least in part, by the pre-frontal cortex, was determined for schizophrenic, bipolar (manic) and control subjects, using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). The schizophrenic and manic subjects both demonstrated poor performance on the WCST, suggesting that cognitive inflexibility and/or pre-frontal dysfunction, is not specific to schizophrenia (although laterality differences could exist). Moderate levels of poor performance in the non-psychiatric control group suggest the need for a review of the cut-off figures in the WCST currently used for predicting ‘brain damage’ and ‘focal frontal involvement‘, especially given the trend for the increasing use of cognitive assessment and rehabilitation in the major psychoses.

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tânia Silva ◽  
Luís Monteiro ◽  
Emanuela Lopes

AbstractAlthough several brief sensitive screening tools are available to detect executive dysfunction, few have been developed to quickly assess executive functioning. The INECO Frontal Screening (IFS) is a brief tool which has proved be useful for the assessment of the executive functions in patients with dementia. The aim of this study was to explore whether the IFS is as sensitive and specific as the BADS, a battery designed to assess the dysexecutive syndrome, in schizophrenia. Our sample comprised a group of 34 schizophrenic patients (Mean age = 39.59, DP = 10.697) and 31 healthy controls (Mean age = 35.52, DP = 10.211). To all groups were administered the BADS, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and IFS. The results suggest that schizophrenic patients performed significantly worse than the control group in all tests (p < .05). The IFS total score was 13.29 for the experimental group and 26.21 for the control group (p < .001). Considering a cut-off of 14 points, the IFS sensitivity was 100% and specificity 56% in detection of executive dysfunction in schizophrenia, compared with the BADS, that if we consider a cut-off of 11 points, was a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 50%. Thus, IFS is a brief, sensitive and specific tool for the detection of executive dysfunction in schizophrenia.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 433-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rady ◽  
A. Elsheshai ◽  
O. Elkholy ◽  
H. Abou el Wafa

Background and aimSchizophrenia and psychotic depression are two psychiatric disorders sharing in common the presence of psychotic features, delusion, hallucinations or both and severe impairment in occupational functions. Added to that the diagnostic dilemma to differentiate between severe psychomotor retardation, which is not uncommon in psychotic depression, and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Our work aims at utilizing Wisconsin Card Sorting Test WCST performance as a differentiating diagnostic tool helping in differentiating between both diagnosis.Subjects and methodsPatients are recruited randomly from the outpatient service of Alexandria University Hospitals, three groups are included;Group I patients with psychotic depression,Group II schizophrenic patients andGroup III control group.Patients recruited in both group I and II score 4 or higher on the Clinical Global Impression for Severity CGI-S scale, all participants were subjected to Brief Psychiatric Rating scale and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test WCST 128 card computerized version.ResultsThe study showed severe impairment in executive functions in all parameters assessed by the WCST including number of administered trials, percentage of errors and perseverative errors as well as failure to maintain categories. Such cognitive dysfunction was significantly more severe in schizophrenia than both other groups. Both schizophrenic and psychotically depressed groups showed poorer performance compared to healthy control.ConclusionPerformance on WCST may be of great help as a differentiating diagnostic tool to distinguish between schizophrenia and psychotic depression.


Author(s):  
Falguni A. Chaudhari ◽  
Parag S. Shah ◽  
Ujjwala Deshpandey

Background: Schizophrenia is severe disorders and imposes a considerable burden on patients, their families and society. Schizophrenia tends to run in family, like most mental disorder shows complex inheritance. Therefore, it is important to increase our knowledge about the disorder. Cognitive dysfunction is one of the core features of Schizophrenia. This study aims to compare the cognitive function of first degree unaffected relative of patient of schizophrenia and a group of healthy control.Methods: The study include 48 first degree normative relative of patient with Schizophrenia and 48 controls. Compared for age, sex, education level. Cognitive functions of each case and control were assessed using TMT (Trail making Test), Paced auditory serial addition Test (PASAT) and Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST-64).Results: First degree relative performed significantly poorly as compared to controls on Wisconsin card sorting Test-64 (WCST-64). No significant difference was observed in tests performances between first degree relative of Schizophrenia and control group for TMT (trail making test) and Paced auditory serial addition Test (PASAT).Conclusions: The study shows possibility of cognitive impairment in first degree normative relative of Schizophrenia with regards to parameters like poor performance in shifting cognitive sets and poor understanding of test. Nevertheless, it is not clear weather this finding is an enduring trait mark or finding that fluctuates with sample size, nature of case and control.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edilson Ramiro Freitas ◽  
Rui Mateus Joaquim ◽  
Maria de Lourdes Merighi Tabaquim ◽  
Ana Paula Camargo

Introdução: O funcionamento executivo preservado para a manutenção de comportamentos adaptativos é condição necessária para obtenção de desfechos clínicos favoráveis no tratamento de sujeitos em dependência química. A confirmação da hipótese de disfunção executiva pode fornecer subsídios ao tratamento comportamental, do sujeito com dependência química. Objetivo: O estudo consistiu na realização de uma avaliação neuropsicológica das funções executivas de mulheres dependentes químicas de cocaína ou crack. Método: A avaliação se deu através de anamnese/exame clínico, entrevistas e testes neuropsicológicos. Para a caracterização da amostra foi utilizado o Protocolo de Anamnese Neuropsicológica. A avaliação neuropsicológica das funções executivas consistiu da aplicação do Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Subteste Dígitos - Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III), Blocos de Corsi, Trail Making Test (TMT), Stroop Test e o Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a fim de investigar oito componentes executivos, a saber: memória operacional, flexibilidade cognitiva, categorização, fluência verbal, atenção seletiva e alternada, rastreamento visuomotor e controle inibitório. Resultados: Os resultados permitiram concluir que mulheres com dependência química, pelo uso de cocaína e <em>crack,</em>apresentam disfunção executiva. Foram encontradas relações clinicamente significativas entre tempo de uso e déficits do funcionamento executivo, indicando que quanto maior o tempo de dependência, mais expressiva a disfunção executiva.<p><strong>Descritores:</strong><strong> </strong>Função Executiva; Neuropsicologia; Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. e020492
Author(s):  
Olena Molchanova

Background At present neurocognitive impairment is considered a core feature of schizophrenia. This statement is grounded on cognitive impairment stability, the persistence of cognitive impairment independently of the disease stage and other symptoms of schizophrenia. The relevance of the search for cognitive remediation methods is determined by the influence of cognitive functioning on the functional outcome in patients with schizophrenia. In order to solve this problem, scientists are actively investigating such direction in the treatment of patients with this psychopathology as «neurocognitive therapy» or neurocognitive training. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of neurocognitive training in patients with paranoid schizophrenia Methods and materials The patients who matched inclusion criteria were assessed on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP), neuropsychological tests (Trail Making Test part A and B, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Luria test) at the baseline, 1st and 6th month. All patients who were included in the study were randomly assigned into two groups. The intervention group (n=40) underwent a standard supportive treatment and neurocognitive training. The control group (n=31) received supportive medication treatment alone. Results After 1st month, a statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups was found both for the overall PANSS score improvement and improvement in several items, which represented the cognitive decline. Total PSP score increased significantly in the intervention group from 41-50 to 51-60 (р=0.0001). In Wisconsin Card Sorting Test the proportion of incorrect answers decreased by 31.4% (р=0.0001), perseverative errors by 20.1% (р=0.042), the number of completed categories increased by 33.5% (р=0.002). Conclusion The proposed neurocognitive training program showed positive results, which was reflected in a statistically significant improvement in PANSS score and cognitive tests performance in the intervention group compared to control group after treatment course and additional 5 months of the observation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 472-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Luis Sánchez ◽  
Javier Martín ◽  
Carolina López

Background: The classic version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) consists of correctly sorting 128 cards according to changing sorting criteria. Its application is costly in terms of the time employed, with all the negative consequences this entails (decrease in motivation, frustration, and fatigue). Method: The main objective of this study was to test the usefulness of the shortened version of the WCST as compared to the full test by analyzing the equivalence between the two decks comprising the full 128-card version on a sample of patients diagnosed with sporadic late onset Alzheimer disease (SLOAD) and to check its clinical usefulness. Results: The variables showed equivalence between the two decks and their ability to differentiate between the control group (CG) and the Alzheimer disease (AD) group. Conclusion: The scores obtained suggest equivalence between decks and that the application of only the first deck is sufficient.


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