Reaction time, processing speed and sustained attention in schizophrenia: impact on social functioning

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies have linked processing speed with social cognition and functioning of patients with schizophrenia. A discriminant analysis is needed to determine the different components of this neuropsychological construct. This paper analyzes the impact of processing speed, reaction time and sustained attention on social functioning.

Material and methods: 98 outpatients between 18 and 65 with DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, with a period of 3 months of clinical stability, were recruited. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and the following variables were measured: processing speed (Trail Making Test [TMT], symbol coding [BACS], verbal fluency), simple and elective reaction time, sustained attention, recognition of facial emotions and global functioning.

Results: Processing speed (measured only through the BACS), sustained attention (CPT) and elective reaction time (but not simple) were associated with functioning. Recognizing facial emotions (FEIT) correlated significantly with scores on measures of processing speed (BACS, Animals, TMT), sustained attention (CPT) and reaction time. The linear regression model showed a significant relationship between functioning, emotion recognition (P=.015) and processing speed (P=.029).

Conclusions: A deficit in processing speed and facial emotion recognition are associated with worse global functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

Keywords: Atención; Attention; Emotion recognition; Esquizofrenia; Processing speed; Reaction time; Reconocimiento de emociones; Schizophrenia; Tiempo de reacción; Velocidad de procesamiento.