Publication: Global functioning among middle-aged patients with chronic schizophrenia: the role of medication, working memory and verbal comprehension
Authors
Ruiz-Iriondo, María ; Salaberría, Karmele ; Echeburúa, Enrique ; Iruín, Álvaro ; Gabaldón, Olga
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Publisher
Universidad de Murcia
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
La fase crónica de la esquizofrenia se caracteriza por la
progresión de la enfermedad y por las dificultades que presentan los pa-
cientes para volver al nivel de funcionamiento premórbido. El objetivo de
este estudio fue describir las características de una muestra de pacientes
con esquizofrenia crónica, y conocer las diferencias entre los pacientes
menores y mayores de 45 años. En una muestra clínica de 77 pacientes con
esquizofrenia crónica, se han evaluado síntomas básicos, el rendimiento
cognitivo, el funcionamiento social y la calidad de vida. Todos los
participantes obtuvieron puntuaciones muy altas en los síntomas residuales,
y no se encontraron diferencias en las características sociodemográficas o
clínicas entre los grupos de edad. Los resultados señalan que los pacientes
más jóvenes tienen mejor rendimiento cognitivo, y los mayores, mejor
funcionamiento social y calidad de vida. El número de fármacos utilizados,
los valores en la escala de aprendizaje verbal diferido del SCIP, los errores
en WCST, los subtests de Semejanzas y Dígitos del WAIS fueron las
variables que mejor pronostican el funcionamiento global de los pacientes
mayores de 45 años. Por lo tanto, aumentar nuestra comprensión de las
características de la fase crónica de la enfermedad y el perfil de
funcionamiento en función de la edad, puede ayudarnos a diseñar
estrategias de intervención para mejorar la adaptación en pacientes jóvenes
y de mediana edad con esquizofrenia crónica.
The chronic phase of schizophrenia is characterized by illness progression and patients encountering difficulties to return to premorbid level of functioning. The objective of this study was to describe the char- acteristics of a sample of patients with chronic schizophrenia, as well to as- sess differences between patients under and over 45 years of age. In a clin- ical sample of 77 chronic schizophrenia patients, we assessed basic symp- toms, cognitive performance, social functioning and quality of life. All par- ticipants obtained very high scores in residual symptoms, and no differ- ences in sociodemographic or clinical characteristics between the age groups were found. Younger patients had better cognitive performance and older patients obtained better scores for social functioning and quality of life. Number of psychotropic drugs, verbal learning delayed of SCIP, errors in WCST, Similarities and Digit Symbol Coding of WAIS were the most important variables to predict global functioning of patients over 45 years old. Increasing our understanding of differences in characteristics of the chronic phase of the illness and the profile of functioning at different ages, may help us design intervention strategies to improve adaptation in young and middle-aged patients with chronic schizophrenia
The chronic phase of schizophrenia is characterized by illness progression and patients encountering difficulties to return to premorbid level of functioning. The objective of this study was to describe the char- acteristics of a sample of patients with chronic schizophrenia, as well to as- sess differences between patients under and over 45 years of age. In a clin- ical sample of 77 chronic schizophrenia patients, we assessed basic symp- toms, cognitive performance, social functioning and quality of life. All par- ticipants obtained very high scores in residual symptoms, and no differ- ences in sociodemographic or clinical characteristics between the age groups were found. Younger patients had better cognitive performance and older patients obtained better scores for social functioning and quality of life. Number of psychotropic drugs, verbal learning delayed of SCIP, errors in WCST, Similarities and Digit Symbol Coding of WAIS were the most important variables to predict global functioning of patients over 45 years old. Increasing our understanding of differences in characteristics of the chronic phase of the illness and the profile of functioning at different ages, may help us design intervention strategies to improve adaptation in young and middle-aged patients with chronic schizophrenia
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