[Cognitive disorders in schizophrenic patients. A controlled study].

In a controlled study, the cognitive functions measured by different association tests in a group of 40 schizophrenic inpatients (ICD 295.1+.3+.6) were compared to those of a control group that was matched according to age, sex and IQ. The results indicate that the basic cognitive functions of schizophrenic patients do not differ significantly from those of a control group in the lower-order tasks. In more complex and higher-order tasks, however, schizophrenic patients show a tendency to prefer less obvious associations (overinclusion) and to reject conventional associations (overexclusion). The results are discussed in the context of current literature as a lack of the cognitive organizing principle and its effects on rehabilitation, creativity and art in schizophrenic patients.