COMPARATIVE STUDY ON NEUROCOGNITIVE DEFICITS IN PATIENTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER

Objective: Cognitive impairments are central features of schizophrenia and are related to functional status and other aspects of the illness. Aim of this study is to assess and compare neurocognitive impairment in schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder patients. Methods: It was a comparative study. 50 consecutive patients of schizophrenia and 50 consecutive patients of bipolar affective disorder were included. We used PANSS for schizophrenia patients and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and Young Mania Rating scale (YMRS) were administered for bipolar patients. Neuropsychological testing was used to compare the cognitive impairment of schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. Results: The mean age of schizophrenic patients was 37 y and the mean age of BPAD patients was 37.32 y The COWT mean score for schizophrenic patients was 6.98(SD±1.84) and for BPAD patients was 8.44(SD±2.61). The score for schizophrenic patients was-21.21(SD±8.83) and for BPAD patients was-25.43(SD±9.34). The score for schizophrenic patients was 27.10(SD±1.26) and for BPAD patients was 27.52(SD±1.43). Conclusion: Compared to bipolar patients, patients with schizophrenia had more cognitive dysfunction. Timely assessment and treatment of cognitive dysfunction should be part of standard management protocols in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.