To describe possible differences in cognitive performance in smoking versus non-smoking patients with first-episode psychosis and to determine the presence of smoking-related cognitive enhancement.

Sixty-two patients with first-episode psychosis were assessed with a neuropsychological battery that included computerized measurements of attention, working memory, and executive functioning. Patients were grouped into two categories: non-smokers (0 cigarettes/day; n=31) and smokers (20 or more cigarettes/day; n=31).

Groups were paired for sociodemographic and clinical data. In the sustained attention task, smokers exhibited shorter reaction times than non-smokers (p=0.026) and presented a significantly lower % of omissions (p=0.046). No differences were found in the % of commissions. Similarly, in the working memory task, smokers exhibited shorter reaction times than non-smokers (p=0.020) and presented a significantly lower % of omissions (p=0.002), with no differences in the % of commissions. Compared to non-smokers, smokers needed significantly less time to complete the Stroop interference task (p=0.013) with no significant differences in the % of correct responses. No differences were detected between groups in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.

Cigarette smoking is associated with less marked attentional and working memory deficits in first-episode psychosis and may constitute a self-medication behavior for remediation of neuropsychological dysfunction. This may be relevant for developing new pharmacotherapies for cognitive deficits in psychosis.