Abstract
In this article, the author reviews basic neuropsychologic issues in the study of schizophrenia. The first issue is whether cognitive dysfunction reflects a degenerative process or is a core feature of the disorder. Evidence demonstrating that cognitive difficulties are present at illness onset and are not caused by medication, illness progression, or other nonspecific factors is reviewed. The second question is less easily answered and deals with whether cognitive difficulties represent generalized dysfunction or differential deficits in specific neurocognitive domains. One difficulty in answering this question is the heterogeneous nature of the disorder. Clinical and cognitive subtyping approaches to reducing heterogeneity are discussed, with the conclusion that cognitive approaches hold the most promise for understanding subtype differences in neurobiologic substrates. Finally, the relation of cognitive ability to functional outcome is described, and it is explained why there is a resurgent interest in remediation efforts. The article closes with suggestions for future directions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 299-302 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Current Psychiatry Reports |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - Aug 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Profiles of neuropsychologic function in schizophrenia. / Ragland, John D.
In: Current Psychiatry Reports, Vol. 5, No. 4, 08.2003, p. 299-302.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Profiles of neuropsychologic function in schizophrenia
AU - Ragland, John D
PY - 2003/8
Y1 - 2003/8
N2 - In this article, the author reviews basic neuropsychologic issues in the study of schizophrenia. The first issue is whether cognitive dysfunction reflects a degenerative process or is a core feature of the disorder. Evidence demonstrating that cognitive difficulties are present at illness onset and are not caused by medication, illness progression, or other nonspecific factors is reviewed. The second question is less easily answered and deals with whether cognitive difficulties represent generalized dysfunction or differential deficits in specific neurocognitive domains. One difficulty in answering this question is the heterogeneous nature of the disorder. Clinical and cognitive subtyping approaches to reducing heterogeneity are discussed, with the conclusion that cognitive approaches hold the most promise for understanding subtype differences in neurobiologic substrates. Finally, the relation of cognitive ability to functional outcome is described, and it is explained why there is a resurgent interest in remediation efforts. The article closes with suggestions for future directions.
AB - In this article, the author reviews basic neuropsychologic issues in the study of schizophrenia. The first issue is whether cognitive dysfunction reflects a degenerative process or is a core feature of the disorder. Evidence demonstrating that cognitive difficulties are present at illness onset and are not caused by medication, illness progression, or other nonspecific factors is reviewed. The second question is less easily answered and deals with whether cognitive difficulties represent generalized dysfunction or differential deficits in specific neurocognitive domains. One difficulty in answering this question is the heterogeneous nature of the disorder. Clinical and cognitive subtyping approaches to reducing heterogeneity are discussed, with the conclusion that cognitive approaches hold the most promise for understanding subtype differences in neurobiologic substrates. Finally, the relation of cognitive ability to functional outcome is described, and it is explained why there is a resurgent interest in remediation efforts. The article closes with suggestions for future directions.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0642336297&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 12857533
AN - SCOPUS:0642336297
VL - 5
SP - 299
EP - 302
JO - Current Psychiatry Reports
JF - Current Psychiatry Reports
SN - 1523-3812
IS - 4
ER -