Cognitive impairment and cortisol levels in first-episode schizophrenia patients
Language English Country England, Great Britain Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords
- Cognitive impairment, dexamethasone suppression test, first-episode schizophrenia, memory functions, plasma afternoon cortisol levels, plasma post-dexamethasone cortisol levels,
- MeSH
- Dexamethasone MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Executive Function physiology MeSH
- Hydrocortisone blood MeSH
- Cognition physiology MeSH
- Cognitive Dysfunction blood complications physiopathology MeSH
- Cognition Disorders complications physiopathology psychology MeSH
- Memory, Short-Term physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Neuropsychological Tests MeSH
- Attention physiology MeSH
- Prospective Studies MeSH
- Schizophrenic Psychology * MeSH
- Schizophrenia blood complications MeSH
- Pituitary-Adrenal System physiopathology MeSH
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System physiopathology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Dexamethasone MeSH
- Hydrocortisone MeSH
Many modalities of cognition are affected in schizophrenia. The most common findings include dysfunctions of episodic and working memory and of executive functions. Although an inverse correlation between cortisol level and memory function has been proven, few studies have focused on the relationship between cortisol level and cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia. In an open, naturalistic, prospective study, consecutively hospitalized males diagnosed with first-episode schizophrenia, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity (afternoon cortisol levels, post-dexamethasone cortisol levels) was evaluated before and at the end of acute treatment. Psychopathology was assessed using the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS). Cognitive functions (memory, attention, psychomotor, verbal fluency, and executive functions) were tested after symptom alleviation using a neurocognitive test battery. In the total sample (n = 23), significant decreases in total PANSS score (including all subscales), afternoon cortisol levels, and post-dexamethasone cortisol levels occurred during the course of treatment. It was found that higher afternoon cortisol levels at the beginning of treatment were significantly related to impaired performance in memory functions. Afternoon cortisol levels were not significantly associated with other measured cognitive functions. No correlation was discovered between cognitive functions and post-dexamethasone cortisol levels. The determination of afternoon cortisol levels may serve to detect potential candidates for specific cognitive intervention immediately after the first psychotic breakthrough.
b Psychiatric Hospital Sternberk Sternberk Czech Republic ;
Department of Psychology Faculty of Arts Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic ;
e Central European Institute of Technology Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic ;
f Department of Clinical Studies Faculty of Medicine University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic ;
g Department of Psychiatry Faculty Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic
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