Abstract
BackgroundSchizophrenia is a complex mental illness with significant sex differences. Cognitive impairment is common in patients with schizophrenia, even in remission. This study was designed to examine the sex differences in the relationship between cognitive impairment and clinical correlations with first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) schizophrenia.Methods93 FEDN patients (male/female = 45/48) and 160 controls (male/female = 74/86) were enrolled to compare the sex differences in cognitive functions measured by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were used to evaluate patients' clinical symptoms. We compared cognitive impairment with sociodemographic characteristics and measures of different genders, as well as group-by-sex interactions.ResultsOur results showed that male patients had significantly lower scores for symbol coding, digital sequence, and verbal learning than female patients, while the healthy controls showed similar sex differences. In female patients, multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that PANSS negative symptoms and general psychopathology scores, HAMD total score, and education level were independent contributors to MCCB total score. In male patients, only education was an independent contributor to MCCB total score.ConclusionsThese findings revealed significant sex differences in cognitive impairments and clinical symptoms in FEDN, which will be worthy of a follow-up study of schizophrenia in the future.
Highlights
Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disease with noticeable sex differences
Among 360 patients with first-episode psychosis, Li found a significant correlation between positive symptoms, short-term attention, and selective attention in male patients, while the correlation between memory and negative symptoms was more significant in female patients [12]
The purpose of this study is to explore: (1) whether Chinese patients with first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) schizophrenia had cognitive impairment compared to healthy controls; (2) whether cognitive impairment in schizophrenia showed sex differences; and (3) whether the sex differences in cognitive impairment is significantly correlated with clinical symptoms or general characteristics
Summary
Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disease with noticeable sex differences. There is growing evidence that sex differences are present in almost all aspectsZhao et al Ann Gen Psychiatry (2021) 20:26 in neurodevelopment may play an important role [4,5,6]. The study of cognition and sex differences in patients with schizophrenia is essential for understanding the basis of neurobiological substrates. Multiple pieces of evidence suggest that cognitive impairment is a core feature that often occurs in the lifetime of schizophrenia [8, 9], and involves a wide range of deficits, including language, attention, memory, processing speed, and executive function [10, 11]. In a study by Ayesa-Arriola, there was no difference in neuropsychological performance between sexes during the first psychotic episode [14]. Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness with significant sex differences. This study was designed to examine the sex differences in the relationship between cognitive impairment and clinical correlations with first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) schizophrenia
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