Neurocognitive functioning and suicidality in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Barrett, Elizabeth A.; Sundet, Kjetil; Simonsen, Carmen; Agartz, Ingrid; Lorentzen, Steinar; Mehlum, Lars; Mork, Erlend; Andreassen, Ole A.; Melle, Ingrid

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.06.001

« Previous Next »Comprehensive Psychiatry
Volume 52, Issue 2 , Pages 156-163, March 2011

Neurocognitive functioning and suicidality in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Elizabeth A. Barrett
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
- Corresponding author. TOP-study, Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Gaustad building 14, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. box 4959 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. Tel.: +47 22 92 37 91; fax: +47 22 92 34 70.
Kjetil Sundet
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway
Carmen Simonsen
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway
Ingrid Agartz
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, 0318 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Research and Development, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, 0319 Oslo, Norway
Steinar Lorentzen
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, 0318 Oslo, Norway
Lars Mehlum
- National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
Erlend Mork
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
- National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
Ole A. Andreassen
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, 0318 Oslo, Norway
Ingrid Melle
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, 0318 Oslo, Norway

published online 05 August 2010.

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate whether suicide attempters had higher IQ, better executive functioning, or were more impulsive as measured by neuropsychological tests than non-attempters in a group of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Method

One hundred seventy-four patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were assessed with a clinical interview for diagnosis, suicidality, symptoms and function, and underwent an extensive neurocognitive test battery.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in any neurocognitive domains between lifetime suicide attempters and non-attempters, or between patients with different rates of suicide attempts. Currently suicidal patients were significantly more impulsive (had poorer inhibitory control) than currently non-suicidal patients, but this difference was mediated by positive psychotic symptoms.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, there are no significant differences in IQ or neurocognitive functioning between suicide attempters and non-attempters.