Verbal memory characteristic of patient with paranoid schizophrenia and their first degree relatives

Abstract

The cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia have received increasing attention as potential endophenotypes of the disorder that could potentially discriminate relatives of patients from controls. Endophenotype that is inherited and state – independent should be found in affected family members as well as in nonaffected family members at a higher rate than in the general population.The current study has attempted to characterize the prevalence, degree and nature of verbal memory deficit in schizophrenia and aimed to study verbal memory task performance in patient with paranoid schizophrenia and their first degree relatives in order to identify, trait cognitive marker of the disorder. Due to this we had studied, whether nonpsychotic relatives of schizophrenic probands had an elevated risk of deficits in cognitive functioning, and, which specific factors such as gender, age, education, illness duration, diagnosis and psychopathological symptoms influenced the tests performance.Schizophrenia patients showed significant impairment of the verbal memory in all domains. In contrast, their first degree relatives having the same education level as the patients did not differ considerably from healthy controls. These results indicate that, probably, the deficiency of explicit verbal memory is not associated with the diathesis for schizophrenia.As the test performance did not correlate with severity of symptoms and medication this finding cannot be attributed to the distractibility due to active psychotic symptoms, or treatment effects. Impaired performance on the CVLT task, a measure of explicit verbal working memory, appears to be associated with the cognitive deficits due to the disorder itself.

Premorbid cognitive deficits in young relatives of schizophrenia patients

“…However, a study reported no verbal-memory deficits in high-risk offspring after controlling for education (Chkonia and Tsverava, 2007). In the EHRS, deficits in Rey's auditory verbal learning test predicted later SZ but deficits in Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test did not (Byrne et al, 1999, 2003; Cosway et al, 2000; Johnstone et al, 2002, 2005; Whyte et al, 2006; Whalley et al, 2007).…”

“…Several studies report impairments in verbal, spatial and object WM domains with a graded pattern of impairment; deficits in patients > relatives > controls are observed for verbal WM (Niendam et al, 2003 ; Conklin et al, 2005 ). Deficits in WM appear to correlate with negative symptoms (Chkonia and Tsverava, 2007 ). Impaired WM has been proposed as a putative endophenotype for SZ (Niendam et al, 2003 ).…”

“…Verbal declarative or long-term memory is significantly reduced in patients (Chkonia and Tsverava, 2007 ), is associated with earlier disease onset, is related to social functioning and negative symptoms (Niendam et al, 2006 ), and is proposed to be a predictor of later SZ in high-risk individuals (Niemi et al, 2003 ; Groom et al, 2007 ) (Table 1 ). However, a study reported no verbal-memory deficits in high-risk offspring after controlling for education (Chkonia and Tsverava, 2007 ).…”

“…Verbal declarative or long-term memory is significantly reduced in patients (Chkonia and Tsverava, 2007 ), is associated with earlier disease onset, is related to social functioning and negative symptoms (Niendam et al, 2006 ), and is proposed to be a predictor of later SZ in high-risk individuals (Niemi et al, 2003 ; Groom et al, 2007 ) (Table 1 ). However, a study reported no verbal-memory deficits in high-risk offspring after controlling for education (Chkonia and Tsverava, 2007 ). In the EHRS, deficits in Rey's auditory verbal learning test predicted later SZ but deficits in Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test did not (Byrne et al, 1999 , 2003 ; Cosway et al, 2000 ; Johnstone et al, 2002 , 2005 ; Whyte et al, 2006 ; Whalley et al, 2007 ).…”

An examination of associations between the inability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and clinical characteristics and trait markers in first-episode, nonaffective psychotic disorders

“…Additionally, endophenotypes tend to be associated with select clinical variables. For example, impairments in verbal declarative (long-term) memory, working memory, and attention have been associated with earlier age at onset of schizophrenia, family history, and/or a greater severity of negative symptoms (Chkonia and Tsverava, 2007; Keshavan et al, 2010; Niendam et al, 2006). …”