Subjective and objective neuropsychological abnormalities in a psychosis prodrome clinic

Background Predicting transitions to psychosis is difficult. Neuropsychology might facilitate predictions. Aims To report preliminary data on self-perceived and objectively measurable neurocognition in prodromal patients of the first German early recognition centre. Method Subjective neuropsychological disturbances were assessed in 51 patients with potentially prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia. Initial neurocognitive functioning was compared with matched normals and patients with schizophrenia. Results Self-perceived deficits mostly concerned perception, cognition and stress reactivity Five transitions happened during the 15-month follow-up. Recently emerging or intensifying deficits were to some extent predictive of transition. Persons at risk performed worse than controls on objectively measured verbal capacity, attention and memory functions. Conclusions Neuropsychological deficits, either self-perceived or objectively measured, characterise persons at risk for schizophrenia and may contribute to predicting transitions. Declaration of interest Funded by the Cologne Faculty of Medicine (Koln Fortune) and Federal Ministry for Education and Research BMBF, German Schizophrenia Research Network (grant 01 GI 993x).