Relationship Between Psychopathological Dimensions and Performance on Frontal Lobe tests in schizophrenia
Year: 2001
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess frontal lobe functioning using a brief battery of neuropsychological tests and correlate the scores obtained on these with the three psychopathological dimensions in a sample of 30 recent-onset, neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic/schizophreniform disorder patients.Psychopathology was assessed using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), and psychopathological dimensions scores on reality distortion, psychomotor poverty and disorganization were calculated.A neuropsychological battery, which aimed at tapping frontal lobe functions, was administered.The relationship between the psychopathological dimension scores and neuropsychological test scores was assessed using Pearson's product moment correlatior~ Reality distortion dimension was not significantly associated with impairment of performance on the frontal lobe Iieuropsychological test scores.Disorganization dimension was positively correlated with increase in the time taken for Trail Making B test thus indicating an impairment in inhibition of an inappropriate response.Psychomotor poverty dimens~on was found to be inversely correlated with delayed response learning and verbal fluency indicating impairment in word generation and working memory.These findings point towards a differential pattern of frontal lobe involvement across the three psychopathological dimensions in neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic patients with recent-onset illness.
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W3041230140