A Comparative Study Of N-Back Task In First-Episode Patients With Schizophrenia

Objective The article aim to explore the different characteristics of n-back tasks in schizophrenic patients with visuosptial and verbal materials effects,and their relationship with course of disease and psychiatric symptoms.Method The research selected randomly 20 first episodes of schizophrenia and 21 healthy controls the International Classification of Diseases(ICD-10),and the case group used positive Symptom Scale and Negative Symptom Scale,Negative Symptom Scale and Clinical General Impression Scale to assess psychiatric symptoms.The experimental procedure was written by using Eprime 2.0.The experimental tool was modeled by the classic n-back test.The experimental procedure was divided into the n-back test(0,1,2-back test)based on visuospatial and verbal material.The defective characteristics of the different working memories of the first-episode patients with Schizophrenia.At the same time,the two groups were used to test the accuracy of the different load(N = 0,1,2)in the n-back test group.Results A total of 20 patients,21 heathy persons completed the test: 1.The accuracy of two groups was statistically significant(P<0.001),both in terms of visuospatial and verbal n-back test,with the increase of working memory load.Consequently,the patients and the healthy persons,under different load on the visuospatial have an impact.2.Independent-sample t test was performed on the correct rate and reaction time of the visuospatial material stimulated at n = 0,1,2.N= 0,there was no significant difference between the patients and the heathy persons.n=1or 2,there was significant difference between the two groups(p=0.003,P<0.001).From the point of reaction time,n = 0,and 1,there was significant difference between the two groups(P=0.023,P=0.014).N= 2,there was no significant difference between the two groups.There was no significant difference in the correct rate of verbal material stimulation between case group and control group when n = 0.N = 1,and 2,the scores of the patients and the heathy persons were statistically different(P =0.005,P<0.001).As the time of reaction,there was significant difference between the two groups(P =0.043),n=0.There was no significant difference between the two groups when n = 1 and 2.3.The age,IQ,educational level,course of disease,PANSS total score,PANSS negative score,PANSS positive score and PANSS general pathology score were analyzed.The results showed that under the different loads of memory,n=1,visuospatial working memory and general pathological symptoms were negatively correlated,0-back,verbal working memory and levels of education was positively correlated.Conclusion 1.Verbal and visuospatial working memory impairment that has existed in the early stages in first-episode patients with Schizophrenia.2.Verbal and visuospatial working memory in first-episode patients with Schizophrenia were damaged at the same time.3.The working memory in first-episode patients with Schizophrenia may be related to levels of education and general psychopathological symptoms,levels of education and symptoms probably predict the working memory impairment.