No specific differences in neurocognitive performance in psychotic disorders

Abstract

Introduction: In the last years, there has been a growing interest in the study of cognitive functionning, not only in schizophrenia but also in other psychoses and psychiatric disorders. Attemtion, memory and information proccessing deficits may have great relevance as predictors of social adjustement and quality of life.

Objetive and methods: We revised literature concerning comparative studies of neuropsychological performance in schizophrenia and affective disorders, mainly bipolar disorders.

Results: Studies analized show contradictory results. Some authors report a more global dysfunction or a more limited and concrete dysfunction in schizophrenia. However, most of the studies, especially those with homogeneus samples of psychotic affective disorders do not find any difference in cognitive functionning between schizophrenic and bipolar patients.

Discussion: Although some factors as sample selection, clinical state, course of the disorder, make difficult the interpretation of results, it would not exist specific deficits in any of the diagnostic groups studied.