Sunday, September 7, 2008

Cognitive and Global Outcome in Schizophrenia Patients Related to Course of Disease, Not Antipsychotic Type: Presented at ECNP

In patients with chronic schizophrenia, the type of antipsychotic treatment (typical or atypical) is not as important for long-term cognitive and social functioning, according to the results of a study presented here at the 21st European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress (ECNP).

Research in the field of neuropsychopharmacology has been indicating a beneficial influence of atypical antipsychotic treatment on cognitive function of patients with schizophrenia, but there have been contradictory findings as well.

"In our study, we compared the patients' functioning with their present medication," explained Agnieszka Kalwa, PhD student, Independent Pharmacotherapy Unit, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland, at a poster presentation on September 2.

The study assessed the relationship between the type of current antipsychotic therapy and the cognitive, clinical, and global social outcome in 30 patients with a duration of disease ranging from 29 to 36 years.

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