J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2014 Nov;53(6):379-385. 10.4306/jknpa.2014.53.6.379.

Intra-Individual Neuropsychological Test Variability : A Comparison of Patients with Schizophrenia, Their Siblings, and Healthy Controls

• Oh H
• Lee K
• Ryu S
• Noh J
• Park J
• Choi H
• Kim JH
• Hong KS

• KMID: 2383327
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2014.53.6.379

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Intra-individual variability of cognitive performance across different tests or domains has been reported as an important index of cognitive function. The aim of the current study is to examine the intra-individual variability across different cognitive domains and tests in patients with schizophrenia, their unaffected siblings, and normal controls. We also compared the variability among three patient sub-groups divided according to the duration of illness.
METHODS
Comprehensive neurocognitive tests were administered in order to stabilize patients with schizophrenia (n=129), healthy siblings (n=38) of the patients, and normal controls (n=110). Intra-individual variability was computed from the variance of the scores of six cognitive domains of the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia consensus battery. We examined intra-individual variability across six factor-based cognitive scores and individual test scores of each cognitive domain.
RESULTS
Compared to the normal control and sibling groups, patients showed significantly increased intra-individual variability across six cognitive domains and individual cognitive tests of each domain. Compared to the normal control, siblings showed significantly increased intra-individual variability only across individual tests of the processing of speed domain. Among patient sub-groups, those with the longest duration of illness (> or =11 years) showed significantly higher intra- individual variability across six cognitive domains and across individual tests of the processing of speed domain compared to the other two groups.
CONCLUSION
This study identified cognitive dissonances across six cognitive domain schizophrenia patients. These cognitive characteristics were not observed in the sibling groups and seemed to progress during the course of illness.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; Intra-individual variability; Neuropsychological tests

MeSH Terms

Cognition
Cognitive Dissonance
Consensus
Humans
Neuropsychological Tests*
Schizophrenia*
Siblings*

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