The importance of clinical normative data for conceptualizing neuropsychological deficits in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Abstract

Objective: To create clinical normative data tables for Norwegian patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, to examine whether clinical normative data from Norway differs from similar normative data from Canada and the U.S., and to illustrate the usefulness of such data. Method: A nationally representative sample of 335 patients from psychiatric hospitals in Bergen, Norway was included. Inclusion criteria were 18-39 years of age, Norwegian as first language, and symptoms of schizophrenia, psychosis, or hallucinations. Comorbid substance abuse was recorded in 134 (40.0%). All completed the Norwegian version of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Results: The average scores of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were approximately one to two standard deviations below the mean for healthy adults. There were no significant differences in scores between patients with or without comorbid substance abuse. Men had higher scores than women. Clinical normative reference value look-up tables were created. Conclusions: Clinical normative values were very similar to values from Canada and the U.S. Clinical normative data, as a supplement to standard healthy normative data, can be used to describe patients' cognitive performance in terms of expectation for their peer group which can be useful for multidisciplinary treatment planning.

Neuropsychology and Schizophrenia: The Role of Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia’s Diagnosis, Their Emergence as Symptoms, and the Cognitive Fields Affected

“…The findings were compared with a group of individuals who had no family history of the disorder. The results showed that 45% had symptoms of schizophrenia in the highrisk group, but only 12% developed the disorder (Rune Raudeberg et al, 2019).…”

“…In the 13-year follow-up study, adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia showed a significant cognitive decline as measured by the Wechsler IQ (Weiss et al, 2010). On the other hand, a 19-year follow-up study by Russell and his colleagues found no difference between patients' IQ with childhood schizophrenia (Rune Raudeberg et al, 2019). A recent meta-analysis reports improved cognitive function in patients, especially in the early years after a first psychotic episode (Rune Raudeberg et al, 2019).…”

“…On the other hand, a 19-year follow-up study by Russell and his colleagues found no difference between patients' IQ with childhood schizophrenia (Rune Raudeberg et al, 2019). A recent meta-analysis reports improved cognitive function in patients, especially in the early years after a first psychotic episode (Rune Raudeberg et al, 2019).…”

“…A recent study included patients living in the community who, as noted, may differ significantly from patients with chronic care (Rune Raudeberg et al, 2019). Indeed, Nemoto et al (2014) showed that cognitive deficits vary between community-based patients and patients with chronic care through their research.…”

Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS): Reference Values From a National Representative Sample

“…Such reference values would offer a much-needed reference for clinicians to discuss posttreatment outcomes that may be dependent on patient characteristics. 10 This study aimed to establish national record-based reference values for the 5 subscales of FAOS (pain, symptoms, activity of daily living [ADL], function in sport and recreation (sport/rec), and quality of life [QOL]), based on a randomly selected national sample of adults across age and sex strata.…”