Neuropsychological dysfunctions among chronic schizophrenia patients, alcohol dependence cases, and normal subjects: A comparative study.

AIM

The aim of this study is to assess the neuropsychological profiles of chronic schizophrenia and alcohol-dependent subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 30 chronic schizophrenia patients, 30 alcohol-dependent patients and 30-matched normal controls. Demographic and clinical data were collected on a self-designed pro forma. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ-C) were administered to chronic schizophrenia and alcohol-dependent patients, respectively. The AIIMS Comprehensive Neuropsychological Battery in Hindi (Adult Form) was used to assess neuropsychological dysfunctions.

RESULTS

Neuropsychological dysfunctions were found in 83.3% of chronic schizophrenia patients, 36.7% alcohol dependents and none of the normal subjects. In comparison to normal subjects, schizophrenia patients had significantly more dysfunctions in neuropsychological-domains such as motor, tactile, visual, receptive and expressive speech, reading, writing, arithmetic, memory, and intellectual processes. A significant positive correlation was found between the PANSS total score and scores of most of the clinical scales except motor and visual scales; the PANSS general psychopathology score and scores of most of the clinical scales except motor visual and pathognomonic scales; the PANSS negative score and scores of most of the clinical scales except visual scale; and the PANSS positive score and scores of receptive speech, arithmetic, and memory scales. In comparison to normal subjects, the alcohol dependents had significantly more dysfunctions in neuropsychological-domains such as motor, tactile, visual, receptive and expressive speech, reading, writing, arithmetic, and memory. A significant positive correlation was found between the SADQ total scale and scores of clinical scales such as expressive speech, writing, arithmetic, intellectual processes, left hemisphere, and total battery scales.

CONCLUSIONS

Neuropsychological dysfunction was significantly more common and severe in chronic schizophrenia patients than in alcohol-dependent patients. In comparison to alcohol dependents, the chronic schizophrenia patients had more dysfunctions in neuropsychological-domains such as tactile, arithmetic, memory, and intellectual processes.