Affective symptoms in schizophrenia are strongly associated with neurocognitive deficits indicating disorders in executive functions, visual memory, attention and social cognition

Buranee Kanchanatawan; Supaksorn Thika; George Anderson; Piotr Galecki; Michael Maes

doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.06.031

Affective symptoms in schizophrenia are strongly associated with neurocognitive deficits indicating disorders in executive functions, visual memory, attention and social cognition

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2018 Jan 3;80(Pt C):168-176. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.06.031. Epub 2017 Jun 27.

Authors

Buranee Kanchanatawan¹, Supaksorn Thika¹, George Anderson², Piotr Galecki³, Michael Maes⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
² CRC Scotland & London, Eccleston Square, London, UK.
³ Department of Adult Psychiatry, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil; Revitalis, Waalre, The Netherlands; IMPACT Strategic Research Center, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: dr.michaelmaes@chula.md.

PMID: 28666826
DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.06.031

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the neurocognitive correlates of affective symptoms in schizophrenia. Towards this end, 40 healthy controls and 80 schizophrenia patients were investigated with six tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), assessing spatial working memory, paired-association learning, one touch stocking, rapid visual information (RVP), emotional recognition test and intra/extradimensional set shifting. The Hamilton Depression (HDRS) and Anxiety (HAMA) Rating Scales and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) as well as the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were also used. There were highly significant associations between all 6 CANTAB tests and HDRS, HAMA and CDSS (except RVP) scores. The most significant items associating with neurocognitive impairments in schizophrenia were self-depreciation (CDSS), fatigue, psychomotor retardation and agitation, psychic and somatic anxiety (HDRS), fears, cognitive symptoms, somatic-muscular, genito-urinary and autonomic symptoms and anxious behavior (HAMA). The selected HDRS and HAMA symptoms indicate fatigue, fears, anxiety, agitation, retardation, somatization and subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) and are therefore labeled "FAARS". Up to 28.8% of the variance in the 6 CANTAB measurements was explained by FAARS, which are better predictors of neurocognitive impairments than the PANSS negative subscale score. Neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia are best predicted by FAARS combined with difficulties in abstract thinking. In conclusion, depression and anxiety symptoms accompanying the negative and positive symptoms of schizophrenia are associated with neurocognitive deficits indicating disorders in executive functions, attention, visual memory, and social cognition. Neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia reflect difficulties in abstract thinking and FAARS, including subjective cognitive complaints.

Keywords: Anxiety; Bipolar; CANTAB; Cognition; Major depression; Schizophrenia.

MeSH terms

Adult
Affective Symptoms / complications
Affective Symptoms / psychology*
Attention*
Case-Control Studies
Executive Function*
Female
Humans
Male
Memory, Short-Term*
Neurocognitive Disorders / complications
Neurocognitive Disorders / psychology*
Neuropsychological Tests
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Schizophrenia / complications
Schizophrenic Psychology*
Social Behavior*
Young Adult