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Neuropsychological correlates of syndromes in schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Ross M. G. Norman ,
A. K. Malla ,
S. L. Morrison-Stewart ,
E. Helmes ,
P. C. Williamson ,
J. Thomas  and
L. Cortese
Ross M. G. Norman*
Affiliation:
London Health Sciences Centre and University of Western Ontario, London
A. K. Malla
Affiliation:
London Health Sciences Centre and University of Western Ontario, London
S. L. Morrison-Stewart
Affiliation:
North Bay Psychiatric Hospital, North Bay
E. Helmes
Affiliation:
St Joseph's Health Centre
P. C. Williamson
Affiliation:
London Health Sciences Centre and University of Western Ontario, London
J. Thomas
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 4G5, Canada
L. Cortese
Affiliation:
London Health Sciences Centre and University of Western Ontario, London
*
Dr R. M. G. Norman, Department of Psychiatry, WMCH, London Health Sciences Centre – Victoria Campus, 392 South Street, London, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract

Background

On the basis of Liddle's three-syndrome model of schizophrenia, it was predicted that: (1) symptoms of psychomotor poverty would be particularly correlated with impaired performance on neuropsychological tests likely to reflect functioning of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; (2) disorganisation would be particularly correlated with impaired performance on tests sensitive to medio-basal prefrontal functioning; and (3) reality distortion would be particularly correlated with measures sensitive to temporal lobe functioning.

Method

The above hypotheses were tested on 87 subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia. Patients' symptoms were scored for each of the three syndromes. Patients completed six neuropsychological tests designed to measure impairment in specific areas of the brain.

Results

There was no support for the first two hypotheses. There was, however, evidence of a specific relationship between reality distortion and neuropsychological performance usually considered to be related to left temporal lobe functioning.

Conclusions

Although not directly supporting the first two hypotheses; the results are, in general, consistent with there being different cortical-subcortical circuits associated with each of psychomotor poverty and disorganisation. Temporal lobe functioning appears to have particular significance for the reality distortion syndrome.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 170 , Issue 2 , February 1997 , pp. 134 - 139
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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