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Memory impairment in schizophrenia: its extent, affiliations and neuropsychological character

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

D. Tamlyn ,
P. J. McKenna ,
A. M. Mortimer ,
C. E. Lund ,
S. Hammond  and
A. D. Baddeley
D. Tamlyn
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital and MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge; University Department of Psychiatry and High Royds Hospital, Leeds; St Luke's Hospital, Huddersfield
P. J. McKenna*
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital and MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge; University Department of Psychiatry and High Royds Hospital, Leeds; St Luke's Hospital, Huddersfield
A. M. Mortimer
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital and MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge; University Department of Psychiatry and High Royds Hospital, Leeds; St Luke's Hospital, Huddersfield
C. E. Lund
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital and MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge; University Department of Psychiatry and High Royds Hospital, Leeds; St Luke's Hospital, Huddersfield
S. Hammond
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital and MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge; University Department of Psychiatry and High Royds Hospital, Leeds; St Luke's Hospital, Huddersfield
A. D. Baddeley
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital and MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge; University Department of Psychiatry and High Royds Hospital, Leeds; St Luke's Hospital, Huddersfield
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr P. J. McKenna, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CBI 5EF.
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Synopsis

In a sample of 60 schizophrenic patients encompassing all grades of severity and chronicity memory impairment was found to be prevalent, often substantial, and disproportionate to the overall level of intellectual impairment. The deficits were not easily attributable to poor cooperation, attention or motivation; nor were they related to neuroleptic or anticholinergic medication. Memory impairment was significantly associated with severity and chronicity of illness and also with negative symptoms and formal thought disorder. There was evidence from the sample as a whole, and from a more detailed examination of five patients with relatively isolated deficits, that schizophrenic memory impairment conformed to the pattern seen in the classical amnesic syndrome. Additionally, there was preliminary evidence for a marked deficit in semantic memory.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , February 1992 , pp. 101 - 115
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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