Ten-year course of cognition in first-episode non-affective psychosis patients: PAFIP cohort

Psychol Med. 2022 Mar;52(4):770-779. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720002408. Epub 2020 Jul 20.

Abstract

Background: A large body of research states that cognitive impairment in schizophrenia is static. Nevertheless, most previous studies lack a control group or have small study samples or short follow-up periods.

Method: We aimed to address these limitations by studying a large epidemiological cohort of patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders and a comparable control sample for a 10-year period.

Results: Our results support the generalized stability of cognitive functions in schizophrenia spectrum disorders considering the entire group. However, the existence of a subgroup of patients characterized by deteriorating cognition and worse long-term clinical outcomes must be noted. Nevertheless, it was not possible to identify concomitant factors or predictors of deterioration (all Ps > 0.05).

Conclusions: Cognitive functions in schizophrenia spectrum disorder are stable; however, a subgroup of subjects that deteriorate can be characterized.

Keywords: 10-year follow-up; cognition; first-episode psychosis; stability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cognition
  • Cognition Disorders* / psychology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Humans
  • Psychotic Disorders* / psychology
  • Schizophrenia*