Sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical factors associated with good performance in paired associates learning (PAL) test in patients with schizophrenia

Introduction Memory and learning deficits are central among cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. However, to a varying proportion ca. 20-25% of patients could not be considered deficit. Objectives Description of sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical factors related to good performance in PAL-test in schizophrenia patients. Methods Participants (N=4500) were members of the Finnish SUPER study on the genetic mechanisms of psychotic disorders (SUPER). The database of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC 1966) was utilized as a reference data. Visual memory and new learning were assessed using Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) Paired Associates Learning (PAL) test. The 50th percentile scores (10 error score or less) for outcome measure total errors adjusted (TEA) of NFBC 1966 was used as a cut-off for good performance in PAL test. Results The sociodemographic and lifestyle factors related good performance for both sexes were: younger age (p