[Neurocognitive performance in the patients with first-episode schizophrenia and their independent first-degree relatives: a cross-sectional study].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate neurocognitive performance in first-episode schizophrenic patients and unaffected first-degree relatives of different patients samples.

METHODS

A total of 42 patients with first-episode schizophrenia, 24 unaffected first-degree relatives and 40 healthy individuals, matched with age, gender and years of education, were recruited from both outpatients and inpatients after being diagnosed with structured tool (SCID-I/P). Subjects' cognitive performance was evaluated by a set of neuropsychological test battery, which assessed four cognitive domains including learning and memory, motor skills, speed of processing and executive function.

RESULTS

Healthy individuals performed better than first-episode schizophrenic patients in nearly all cognitive domains (ES=0.63-1.54) with exception of inhibition sub-domain. first-degree relatives showed moderate impairment in verbal learning (ES=0.62), digital symbol (ES=1.05), symbol search (ES=1.18), animal category (ES=0.80) and WCST perseverate errors (ES=0.68). Degree of impairment in first-degree relatives was less than that in the patients.

CONCLUSION

Patients with first-episode schizophrenia have global neurocognitive deficits. Independent first-degree relatives also have deficits in some neurocognitive domains, with a moderate degree between patients and normal controls. Our results indicate that neurocognitive performance may be viewed as a biomarker for candidates reflecting genetic liability for schizophrenia.