Search

Purpose Neurocognitive outcomes are frequently used as indicators of real-world functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). These test results may be influenced by individual differences, such as affective dispositions. Here we investigate the relationship between positive and negative affect and neuropsychological test scores in a large, mixed-gender, population based group of participants without co-morbid substance abuse. Materials and methods We assessed 129 male and female SSD patients with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Results and conclusions The neuropsychological test scores were mainly predicted by age and gender, with small contributions from negative psychosis symptoms. There was a statistically significant relationship between Positive Affect and processing speed and between Negative Affect and verbal memory and executive function. However, the level of neurocognitive function variance explained by these affects was only 5%. Thus, the neurocognitive test results were not associated with trait affect in any clinically significant manner. This adds to previous findings of no relationship between affective dispositions and psychosis symptom variables in our participants. We suggest that affective traits constitute an independent dimension that may influence well-being, coping, and real-life outcome in SSD patients directly, and not through neurocognitive function.

The needs of people with schizophrenia are great, and having extensive knowledge of this patient group is crucial for providing the right support. The aim of this study was to investigate, over 4 years, the importance of repeated assessments by patients with schizophrenia and by professionals. Data were collected from evidence-based assessment scales, interviews, and visual self-assessment scales. The data processing used descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analyses. The results showed that the relationships between several of the patients’ self-rating assessments were stronger at the 4-year follow-up than at baseline. In parallel, the concordance rate between patient assessments and case manager assessments increased. The conclusions drawn are that through repeated assessments the patients’ ability to assess their own situation improved over time and that case managers became better at understanding their patients’ situation. This, in turn, provides a safer basis for assessments and further treatment interventions, which may lead to more patients achieving remission, which can lead to less risk for hospitalization and too early death.

Background: Patients with schizophrenia have about 20 years shorter lifetime expectancy compared to healthy population. Among these patients, cognitive performance is a predictor of early death while illness severity, as expressed in both symptom activity and remission status, has no relation with length of life. Vital signs, such as blood pressure and heart rate, weight including BMI, and spontaneously reported symptoms did neither indicate an increased risk for early death. This work focus on whether self-rated physical condition and activities, in contrast to vital signs and perceived symptoms, could be related to cognitive performance and length of life.Methods: From the Clinical Long-term Investigation of Psychosis in Sweden (CLIPS) study, 310 participants were categorized into 4 groups from their cognitive performance at baseline: good cognitive function (GCF), n = 114, impaired cognitive function (ICF), n = 90, and severely impaired cognitive function (SICF), n = 45. The fourth group was patients who had passed away during the study time, n = 61. Patients’ perceived physical condition was assessed at baseline using the SF-36, which included 10 questions about everyday physical activities. The 4 groups were compared using ANOVAs and post hoc analyzes.Results: Patients who had deceased reported, on average 9.5 years before their death, a significantly (P < .001) more impaired physical condition compared to the GCF group and the ICF group (P = .028) but did not show any difference compared with the SICF group (P = .424). An item analysis showed that especially physical activities, such as walking a distance or climbing the stairs, were impaired. When only alive patients’ physical status vs cognitive performance were analyzed, the GCP were more physical fit than the ICF (P = .018) and SICF (P = .011), but there were no difference between ICF and SICF.Conclusion: In contrast to vital signs and perceived symptoms of illness, patient reported differences in physi

Clinical Long-term Investigation of Psychosis in Sweden (CLIPS)

Clinical Long-term Investigation of Psychosis in Sweden (CLIPS)