A Comparative Study Of The Cognitive Function In Individuals At Ultra-high-risk For Schizophrenia

Objective: To explore the cognitive function and related factors of individuals at ultra-high-risk for schizophrenia,to provide theoretical basis for the early diagnosis of schizophrenia.Method: The study adopt Criteria of Prodromal Syndromes of American to screen individuals at ultra-high-risk for schizophrenia. 38 individuals at ultrahigh-risk for schizophrenia and 38 healthy volunteers were selected. All subjects were assessed psychotic symptoms with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS). The cognitive function were assessed with MATRICS consensus cognitive battery(MCCB, including: Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised(HVLT-R), brief visuospatial memory test-revised(BVMT-R), Trail Making test(TMT), symbol coding subtest of the brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia(BACS-SCS), Stroop color word test and continuous Performance test(CPT) etc. We assessed cognitive areas of learning and memory, information processing speed, the ability to pay attention / alertness with these measurement tools. We imported all data into EXCEL and built a database, and used the SPSS19.0 for statistical processing.Results: The study group and control group:(1)Learning and Memory:HVLT-R 2 [(10.15 ± 1.42) VS(11.20 ± 0.77), t =-2.622, P = 0.017], Stroop(word) [(79.00 ± 17.27)VS(97.00 ± 13.17), t =-3.164, P = 0.005], Stroop(color) [(52.00 ± 15.97)VS(72.30 ± 17.91), t =-3.223, P = 0.004];(2)Attention / Alertness:CPT3 [(1.88 ± 1.06) VS(2.57 ± 1.11), t =-2.720, P = 0.014], CPT average [(2.67 ± 0.78) VS(3.14 ± 0.92), t =-2.239, P = 0.037];(3) Information Processing Speed: Stroop(word) [(79.00 ± 17.27)VS(97.00 ± 13.17), t =-3.164, P= 0.005], Stroop(color) [(52.00 ± 15.97)VS(72.30 ± 17.91), t =-3.223, P= 0.004]. The two groups are significant differences in HVLT-R2, Stroop(word), Stroop(color) average CPT and CPT-3, P<0.05, and have statistically significant. Trail Making Test was positively correlated with age(r=0.452, P<0.05), a simple visual-spatial memory tests in BVMT-R2, BVMT-R3, continuous operation test of CPT1, CPT3, CPT average were negatively correlated with age(r=-0.528, r=-0.485, r=-0.526, r=-0.488, r=-0.466, P< 0.05), symbol coding test was positively correlated with educational years(P <0.05).Conclusion:(1)There are wide range impairments of cognitive function in individuals at ultra-high-risk for schizophrenia, including learning/memory, attention/vigilanc and information processing speed.(2)The cognition functions of individuals at ultra-high-risk for schizophrenia are related with age, especially in learning and memories function, damage is aggravating with the increase of age.