The frontal assessment battery (FAB) compared to the stroop test in schizophrenia

Abstract

Background and aims:Frontal lobe dysfunction has been considered as a core feature in schizophrenia. To the evaluation of this impairment, time-consuming neuropsychological batteries are needed. Recently, Dubois et al (2000) reported a short battery for assessing frontal lobe function in patients with neurological disorders. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of this frontal assessment battery (FAB) in patients with schizophrenia, we performed both FAB and Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT), which is suggested to be a representative task of executive function.Methods:24 schizophrenic patients and 30 sex and age-matched controls were included. FAB, SCWT and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were performed in both groups. The FAB scores were compared with the performance in SCWT and correlated with education level, age and duration of disease. No difference in the MMSE scores between two groups was found.Results:The FAB global score was significantly lower in the schizophrenia group compared to controls. In the patients group, the conceptualization and the inhibitory control subscores were negatively correlated with mistakes in color-naming task. The FAB total score, the mental flexibility and the programming subscores were negatively correlated with latencies in color-naming, color-reading and in color-word interference task of SCWT. Negative correlation between the FAB scores and the age and duration of disease was also evident.Conclusion:The FAB is likely to be a useful and brief battery for assessing frontal lobe function in schizophrenia, as it results from the comparison with SCWT.