Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia across age groups: a case–control study

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Abstract
Background

The potential dynamics of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia is discussed in the literature of the field. Recent publications suggest modest changes in level of cognitive impairment after first psychotic episode. Present article attempts to explore cognitive differences between patients and controls across age groups and differences between age groups in clinical group.
Methods

One hundred and twenty-eight hospitalized patients with schizophrenia (64 women and 64 men) and 68 individuals from the control group (32 women and 32 men) aged 18–55 years were examined. The patients were divided into age groups (18–25, 26–35, 36–45, 46–55). Both groups were examined using Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, Trail Making Test (A and B), Stroop Test, verbal fluency test and Wechsler digit span.
Results

Patients with schizophrenia obtained significantly lower scores versus the control group in regard to all the measured cognitive functions (Mann–Whitney U; p < 0.05. Most deficits were present in all age groups, however, statistically important impairment in executive functions (WCST) were present only in “older” groups.
Conclusions

Patients with schizophrenia obtained less favourable results than the control group in all age groups. Deficits regarding executive functions do not seem to be at a significant level among the youngest group, whereas they are more noticeable in the group of 46–55-year-olds. Executive functions are significantly lowered in the group aged 36–45 in comparison to the “younger” groups. The level of cognitive functions shows a mild exacerbation in connection with age, whereas cognitive rigidity proved to be related to the number of years spent without hospital treatment.
Keywords
Schizophrenia Cognitive impairment Executive functions

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To be honest more important info is to me what factors helped sz people in not having cognitive differences in comparison to the control group… finding the protective factors would be much more valuable for sufferers because as we know already we have pretty amazingly functioning people on this forum also in relation to cognitive skills so the decline is not inevitable… I have been always a huge fan of positive findings than concentration on dysfunction…

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This is just my guess, not proven science or anything. But some of what I have read indicates that trauma can affect cognitive performance. A lot of people with schizophrenia have had traumatic childhoods, but certainly not all. But a lot more people with schizophrenia IMO have been traumatized by psychotic episodes. Then often there is further trauma inflicted in how the person is treated during the episode(s), such as by family, police or healthcare professionals. If there is indeed a link between trauma and cognitive performance loss, then my best guess is that the trauma often involved with schizophrenia would be significant, as well.

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I like your thinking @Turnip. Psychotic episode itself I think can be enough factor to get PTSD… at least it scared the cr… out of me and still having flashbacks from that period 5yrs later… that is why I don’t understand why some sort of therapy is not included in the treatment of sz, just meds. At least back in my country it isn’t…

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