Cognitive Impairment in Clinically Stable Patients with Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Teaching Hospital Eastern UP

Abstract

Introduction: Over the past two decades, research on schizophrenia has extensively focused on cognitive impairment, its impact on daily functioning, and overall disease outcomes.

Aim and Objective: The study aims to evaluate cognitive deficits across five domains—Attention, Memory, Fluency, Language, and Visuospatial abilities—in young adults diagnosed with schizophrenia and compare them with a control group matched for age, sex, and education.

Methods: A total of 50 participants with schizophrenia were recruited from the psychiatric outpatient department (OPD), while 50 control participants were selected from the general population. Both groups underwent screening based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III) were administered, and the data were analysed using SPSS software version 23.0.

Results: The study revealed a significant difference in ACE-III scores between the schizophrenia and control groups (84% vs. 100%, p=0.003), with schizophrenia patients showing a decline across all cognitive domains compared to controls (p<0.000). The mean scores in the schizophrenia and control groups, respectively, were as follows: Attention (14.22 vs. 16.38), Memory (24.14 vs. 25.04), Fluency (12.92 vs. 13.64), Language (24.22 vs. 25.46), Visuospatial abilities (14.14 vs. 15.28), and the overall ACE-III score (89.92 vs. 95.86). Additionally, cognitive decline was observed in the total ACE-III score based on the duration of illness (<1 year, 1–5 years, and >5 years), which was statistically significant (91.47 vs. 90.15 vs. 86.82, p=0.000).

Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for greater attention to cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Implementing routine cognitive assessments during initial evaluations and follow-up appointments may help in early detection and management, ultimately improving patient outcomes.