Visual memory and psychotic symptoms in youth

Cogn Neuropsychiatry. 2020 May;25(3):231-241. doi: 10.1080/13546805.2020.1741342. Epub 2020 Mar 22.

Abstract

Background: Psychotic symptoms are common during childhood and adolescence and may indicate transdiagnostic risk of future psychiatric disorders. Lower visual memory ability has been suggested as a potential indicator of future risk of mental illness. The relationship between visual memory and clinician-confirmed definite psychotic symptoms in youth has not yet been explored.

Methods: We examined visual memory and psychotic symptoms among 205 participants aged 7-27 years in a cohort enriched for parental mood and psychotic disorders. We assessed visual memory using the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) and psychotic symptoms using validated semi-structured interview measures. We tested the relationship between visual memory and psychotic symptoms using mixed-effects logistic regression.

Results: After accounting for age, sex, and family clustering, we found that psychotic symptoms were significantly associated with lower visual memory (OR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.06-3.06, p = 0.030). This result was unchanged after accounting for general cognitive ability.

Conclusion: Lower visual memory performance is associated with psychotic symptoms among youth, regardless of general cognitive ability. This finding may inform future targeted early interventions.

Keywords: Cognition; psychotic symptoms; visual memory; youth at-risk.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods*
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology*
  • Young Adult