An examination of the relationship between executive function, memory, and rehabilitation status in schizophrenia

Impairments of executive function and memory are being increasingly reported in neuropsychological studies of schizophrenia. However, the important practical relationship between these cognitive impairments and rehabilitation status has not been examined in detail. In the present study, 40 patients at varying stages in their rehabilitation programmes were assessed for signs, symptoms, executive and memory function, and rehabilitation status. It was predicted that rehabilitation status would be directly related to levels of mnemonic and executive dysfunction. In fact, a crude measure of overall level of cognitive function was found to be the best cognitive correlate of rehabilitation status. Factor analysis of signs and symptoms confirmed a three syndrome solution (psychomotor poverty, reality distortion, and disorganisation). No clear relationship emerged between these factors and degree of executive or memory dysfunction.