The use of clock tests in schizophrenia

Though clock drawing tests are well recognized as measures of cognitive function, there is little data on the performance of patients with schizophrenia. We compared 24 patients with schizophrenia to 24 healthy, age-matched controls on clock drawing, copying, and rending. Patients with schizophrenia performed significantly worse on clock drawing and copying despite the fact that the groups had similar scores on the MMSE. Worse performance was associated with higher scores on the BPRS. Clock drawing and copying may be useful for the assessment of cognition in schizophrenia, and the monitoring of cognitive changes associated with antipsychotic medication. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.