Original article

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research 2009;12(2):96-102.

정신분열병 환자에서 인지기능 특성에 따른 2세대 항정신병약물의 차별적인 효과

Hee Jung Nam, MD1, Kyung Sue Hong, MD, PhD2 and Se Chang Yoon, MD, PhD2

Abstract

Objectives:In previous study, we could identify three different cognitive domains (CD) according to their genetic basis, i.e., CD1) probable endophenotype markers- impaired both in patients and their siblings, CD2) probable disease state markers- impaired only in the patient group, CD3) preserved domain in schizophrenia. This study aimed at investigating whether effects of second generation antipsychotics (SGA) are different on these three cognitive domains.
Methods:The subjects were twenty schizophrenic patients treated with SGA. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and a battery of neurocognitive tests were administered at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment.
Results:For the test classified into CD1-the category fluency test, we could not find any difference between the pre- and posttreatment scores. Among the tests classified into CD2, significant improvement of the functioning was observed in verbal memory: immediate recall (p=0.002) and verbal memory: delayed recall (p=0.035). The other tests in CD2 and all of the tests in CD3 did not show any significant change after the treatment.
Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that SGA has clinical effects on cognitive functioning that are related to the disease state. Deficits in the category fluency test, probable endophenotype marker of schizophrenia, persisted after the treatment with SGA. (Korean J Schizophr Res 2009;12:96-102)

Key Words: Schizophrenia,Second generation antipsychotics,Cognition,Endophenotype