Cognitive Functions, Social Functioning, and Self-Esteem in Young Male Patients with Adolescent-Onset Schizotypal Disorder

Abstract

We present here the results of psychological investigation of 33 male patients (mean age 22 years) with diagnoses of adolescent-onset schizotypal disorder (STD) (study group) and 20 healthy youths (control group). Cognitive functioning in STD patients was found to be no different from that in the control group in terms of most parameters, though there were significant differences in the level of social adaptation. There was also a tendency to changes in normative responses and, thus, the results on a number of psychological tests. These data suggest that personality deficits play a more significant role in social maladaptation of STD patients than cognitive impairments.