The relationship of resilience with cognitive function in patients with first-episode schizophrenia

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the correlation between resilience and cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Fifty-nine patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 86 healthy controls were enrolled. Patients with schizophrenia were enrolled from the psychiatric outpatient and inpatient Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from September 2017 to January 2020, while healthy controls were recruited through advertising. The levels of resilience and cognitive function were compared between the two groups.Meanwhile, the partial correlation analysis of resilience and cognitive function of the two groups was performed. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in gender, marriage and age between the two groups (all P>0.05), and there were 39 males and 20 females with an average age of (23.8±7.4) years in the schizophrenia group, while 47 males and 39 females with an average age of (22.9±4.7) years in the healthy control group. However, there was a significant difference inyears of education between the two groups (P<0.05). The total score of resilience [(56.9±16.7) vs(68.0±14.4)] and scores ofthree factorsin patients with schizophrenia were significantly lower than that in healthy controls(all P<0.05). The total score of MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB)[(23±12) vs (42±11)] and each subscale score in patients with schizophrenia were significantly lower than that in healthy controls(all P<0.05). Partial correlation analysis showed that the total score of resilience and tenacity were correlated with symbol coding of schizophrenia(partial correlation coefficients were 0.286, 0.289, respectively, both P<0.05). The total score of resilience and the scores of tenacity, strength and optimism were all correlated with emotion management ability of schizophrenia(partial correlation coefficients were 0.334, 0.271, 0.382, 0.308, respectively, all P<0.05). In the healthy controls, the total score of resilience, tenacity and optimism were correlated with symbol coding(partial correlation coefficients were 0.268, 0.225, 0.291, respectively, all P<0.05). Strength and optimism were correlated with Hopkins verbal learning test (HVLT)(partial correlation coefficients were 0.268, 0.225, respectively, both P<0.05). Strength was correlated with spatial span, continuous performance test(partial correlation coefficients were 0.244, 0.217, respectively, bothP<0.05). The total scores of resilience and tenacity, strength and optimism were correlated with emotional management ability(partial correlation coefficients were 0.306, 0.230, 0.286, 0.289, respectively, all P<0.05), while the total scores of resilience, strength and optimism were correlated with the total score of MCCB(partial correlation coefficients were 0.291, 0.359, 0.287, respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusion: The current study suggests that resilience and cognitive function of patients with first-episode schizophrenia areimpaired significantly. Resilience in patients with schizophrenia isrelated to partial neurocognitive function and emotion management ability in social cognitive function.