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Poor memory, negative symptoms and abnormal movements in never-treated Indian patients with schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

R. G. McCreadie*
Affiliation:
Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries
S. Latha
Affiliation:
Schizophrenia Research Foundation (India), No C-46, 13th Street, East Anna Nagar, Madras-600 102, India
R. Thara
Affiliation:
Schizophrenia Research Foundation (India), No C-46, 13th Street, East Anna Nagar, Madras-600 102, India
R. Padmavathi
Affiliation:
Schizophrenia Research Foundation (India), No C-46, 13th Street, East Anna Nagar, Madras-600 102, India
J. R. Ayankaran
Affiliation:
Schizophrenia Research Foundation (India), No C-46, 13th Street, East Anna Nagar, Madras-600 102, India
*
R. G. McCreadie, Director of Clinical Research, Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries DGI 4TG. Fax: 01387 257735

Abstract

Background

Cognitive impairment, frequently found in patients with schizophrenia, may be associated with negative symptoms and dyskinesia. However, antipsychotic medication may be a confounding variable. These putative associations may be clarified by examining never-treated patients.

Method

Never-treated elderly schizophrenic patients (n=19) living in south-east India were compared with treated patients (n=25) and normal subjects (n=55). Memory was assessed by the Wechsler Memory Scale, negative symptoms by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and dyskinesia by the Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale.

Results

Normal subjects had a higher mean memory quotient than patients. There were no significant differences between never-treated and treated patients. Negative symptoms were associated with a poorer memory in the never-treated group. There was no association between memory and dyskinesia.

Conclusions

There is an association in never-treated patients between a poorer memory and negative symptoms, but not between a poorer memory and dyskinesia.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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