Association between Mismatch Negativity and Functional Status in Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Objectives : It has been constantly reported that mismatch negativity (MMN) is impaired in patients with schizophrenia. However, the mechanism which relates impaired MMN and schizophrenia is not clear yet. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between MMN and clinical variables including functional status in patients with schizophrenia. Methods : The present study assessed MMN using passive auditory oddball task in 26 patients with schizophrenia and 48 healthy controls. Repeated measures Analysis of Variance with age as a covariate was carried out for comparing peak amplitude and latency of MMN at 8 central line electrodes (FPz, Fz, FCz, Cz, CPz, Pz, POz, Oz) across groups. Pearson’s correlation was performed to reveal the relationship between MMN and clinical variables including neurocognitive test results and the Global Assessment of Functioning score. Results : MMN amplitude was significantly reduced in patients with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls. Pearson’s cor relation showed that subsets of short form of Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale scores and GAF scores were associated with MMN amplitude in patients with schizophrenia. Conclusion : These findings suggest that MMN amplitude is associated with current functional status including cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. (Korean J Schizophr Res 2013;16:98-106)