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BackgroundThe CogState Schizophrenia Battery (CSB), a computerized cognitive battery, covers all the same cognitive domains as the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery but is briefer to conduct. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the criterion and construct validity of the Japanese language version of the CSB (CSB-J) in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.Methodology/Principal FindingsForty Japanese patients with schizophrenia and 40 Japanese healthy controls with matching age, gender, and premorbid intelligence quotient were enrolled. The CSB-J and the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia, Japanese-language version (BACS-J) were performed once. The structure of the CSB-J was also evaluated by a factor analysis. Similar to the BACS-J, the CSB-J was sensitive to cognitive impairment in Japanese patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the CSB-J composite score and the BACS-J composite score. A factor analysis showed a three-factor model consisting of memory, speed, and social cognition factors.Conclusions/SignificanceThis study suggests that the CSB-J is a useful and rapid automatically administered computerized battery for assessing broad cognitive domains in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

Aim: This preliminary study was performed to test the reliability and validity of the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), developed by the National Institute of Mental Health MATRICS initiative, as an assessment tool in a Japanese-language version (MCCB-J). Methods:The subjects for the present study were 37 patients with schizophrenia. Each subject gave written informed consent to participate in the research. In order to examine the validity of the MCCB-J, the correlation between the MCCB-J and the Japanese-language version of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) was determined.Results: Cronbach's alpha for the MCCB-J was 0.72. The MCCB-J composite score was significantly correlated with all subtests of the MCCB-J. There was a significant correlation between the MCCB-J and the BACS composite score. Conclusion:This preliminary study indicates that the MCCB-J has good psychometric properties and validity.

Aims:The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between cognitive function and clinical variables in people with schizophrenia. Methods:The subjects were 61 stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV). Their mean age was 40.1 (SD = 12.2) years. All subjects gave written informed consent to participate in the research. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, and the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale.Results: The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale Negative syndrome score was significantly correlated with verbal memory score (r = -0.37, P < 0.01), working memory score (r = 0.38, P < 0.01), attention and speed of information processing score (r = -0.51, P < 0.01), verbal fluency score (r = -0.39, P < 0.01), and composite score (r = -0.54, P < 0.01). In addition, the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale score was significantly correlated with attention and speed of information processing (r = -0.45, P < 0.01), and composite score (r = -0.41, P < 0. 01). Dose of antipsychotics and anti-Parkinson drugs was not significantly correlated with the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia scores. Conclusions:These results indicate that cognitive dysfunction of people with schizophrenia might be associated with negative and drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms, suggesting that their minimization would be important for improving cognitive dysfunction.

PurposeThe purpose of the present study was to examine clinical factors related to social function in people with schizophrenia.Patients and methodsThe participants were 55 stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia. Their mean age was 39.36 (SD =10.65) years. Social function was assessed using the Quality of Life Scale (QLS). Cognitive function was evaluated with the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, and the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale.ResultsNeither the MCCB cognitive domain score nor composite score was correlated with the QLS scores. However, of the 10 MCCB subtests, the Trail Making Test Part A and the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia-Symbol Coding (BACS-SC) scores were positively correlated with the QLS scores. Among clinical variables, especially the PANSS negative syndrome scale score had a strong negative correlation with the QLS scores. Stepwise regression analyses showed that the PANSS negative syndrome scale score was an independent predictor of the QLS scores, and although the BACS-SC score predicted the QLS common objects and activities subscale score, the association was not so strong compared to the PANSS negative syndrome scale score.ConclusionThese results indicate that speed of processing evaluated by BACS-SC could predict some aspect of social function but negative symptoms have a much stronger impact on global social function in people with schizophrenia.