Risperidone In The Treatment Of Cognitive Impairment In Schizophrenia Patients

ObjectiveCognitive deficits in schizophrenia is one of the basical symptoms , it is relate to many factors. To negative and positive symptoms, the results of some studies are that cognitive deficits are relate to negative symptoms, some results are that cognitive deficits are relate to positive symptoms, the other results are that cognitive dificits are relate to both negative and positive symptoms. About the relations to the course, most results think that cognitive deficits are stable, and do not follow with the improvement of symptoms. On the relation to antipsy-chotic drugs, it think that action mechanism and EPS side effects of tradition antipsychotic drugs weighten cognitive deficits, while new type antipsychotic drugs can improve cognitive deficits. This paper explored the change of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia between pre-treatment and posttreatment.MethodThirty - five patients with schizophrenia were entered in the stud-y. Thirty -five consenting patients (men, n=22; women, n = 13) fulfilling ICD - 10 criteria for schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder were recruited from mental hospital for the first meeting. Only patients without mental retardation, brain organic psychosis and psychosis caused by physical disorder were included. In addition, patients who had current abuse and past dependence on alcohol or drugs were excluded. Cognitive functions were measured with neuropsychologi-cal, including understanding, similarity, digit span, digit sign, picture , picture remembrance, vision renew, reorganization, touch memory, and WCST (total number, total error number and persistent error number). All patients take Risperdal. Datas are processed with Paired - Sample t Test in SPSS9.0.ResultsThe similarity, digit span, digit sign, picture, picture remembrance , vision renew in patients after treatment were higher than those before treatment ( P <0.05). As to the total number, total error number and persistent error number of WCST (P <0. 05).DiscussionIn this study, thirty - five patients who took Risperdal treatment have cognitive function disorder in different disagree, after 12 weeks, nine items among twelve items reflecting cognitive function have significant difference , indicate cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are reversible and related to new type antipsychotic drug . New type antip-sychotic drugs are 5 - HT receptors antagonist, especially 5 - HT2 receptor , it is D2 receptor antagonist too, make these antagonistic action and function balance, induce minor side effects, at the same time , improve cognitive function. In the trial, we find minor cognitive function tests have not significant difference, reflect this part cognitive function that are irreversible is related to neurobiology lesions.Conclusion1. After 12 weeks, most cognitive deficits in schizophrenia patients had been improved significantly, showing that cognitive deficits are reversible.2. After 12 weeks, a small portion of cognitive deficits hadn 't been improved, suggesting the cognitive deficits may have organic factors, and be related to the neurobiology lesion.