Abstract
Recent studies have shown that patients with schizophrenia who have an adolescent-symptom onset (before age 21) have a worse clinical course and greater frequency of cerebral abnormalities than those with an adult-onset (after age 25). However, Little is known about the neuropsychological functioning of these groups. A comprehensive neuropsychological examination was administered to groups of patients with schizophrenia with either an adolescent- or adult symptom-onset and a healthy control group. The adolescent-onset group performed worse than the adult-onset and control groups, particularly on measures of memory and executive function. The adult-onset:group also performed worse than the controls, but to a lesser extent than did the adolescent-onset group. Results are discussed with reference to hypotheses that adolescent-onset schizophrenia represents a distinct neurodevelopmental disease entity.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 107-112 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 2 |
State | Published - May 30 1997 |
Keywords
- Executive function
- Memory
- Schizophrenia