Working Memory Deficits in Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis and Schizophrenia

Im Hong Jeon; Jong Suk Park; Jin Young Park; Hye Hyun Cho; Se Jun Koo; Eun Lee; Suk Kyoon An; Sun Kook Yoo

doi:10.0000/kjsr.2012.15.2.66

Journal List > Korean J Schizophr Res > v.15(2) > 1057781

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Jeon, Park, Park, Cho, Koo, Lee, An, and Yoo: Working Memory Deficits in Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis and Schizophrenia

Original Article

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research 2012; 15(2): 66-72.

Published online: 31 October 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/kjsr.2012.15.2.66

Working Memory Deficits in Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis and Schizophrenia

Im Hong Jeon, MD^1,², Jong Suk Park, MD^1,², Jin Young Park, MD^1,³, Hye Hyun Cho, MSc², Se Jun Koo, MSc², Eun Lee, MD^2,⁴, Suk Kyoon An, MD^1,², Sun Kook Yoo, PhD⁵

¹Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Mental Health Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

²Section of Affect and Neuroscience, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

³Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

⁴Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

⁵Department of Medical Engineering, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Suk Kyoon An, Severance Mental Health Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 119 Gyeongchung-daero 1926 Beon-gil, Gwangju 464-100, Korea. Tel: 031-760-9404, Fax: 031-761-7582, ansk@yuhs.ac

Received 15 August 2012 Revised 10 September 2012 Accepted 10 September 2012

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate whether verbal and spatial working memory functions were impaired not only in patients with schizophrenia but also in people at ultra-high risk for first-episode psychosis.

Methods

Twenty-five patients (M 13, F 12) with schizophrenia (SPR), 21 people at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR)(M 10, F 11) and 19 normal controls (NC)(M 10, F 9) were recruited. The working memory was assessed by using the verbal and spatial n-back test. The working memory load increased incrementally from the 0-back to the 3-back condition.

Results

SPR performed significantly lower than NC and UHR in terms of hit rates of verbal and spatial n-back test. UHR subjects conducted significantly lower than NC and higher in trend-level than SPR in terms of hit rates of verbal and spatial n-back test. These differences were derived from the high working memory load (2-back and 3-back), not from the low working memory load (0-back and 1-back). There was no significant difference between the verbal and spatial n-back test across the three groups.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that verbal and spatial working memory dysfunction may be general rather than differential in terms of stimuli modality, and this working memory deficit may be an important trait factor in schizophrenia.

Keywords: Verbal, Spatial, Working memory, N-back test, Ultra-high risk for psychosis, Schizophrenia

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Verbal and spatial n-back task. A : Example trials of a verbal 2-back task. B : Example trials of a spatial 2-back task.

Table 1

Demographic characteristics and psychological measures in control group, UHR group and schizophrenia group

UHR : Ultra High Risk, SAPS : Scale for the assessment of positive symptoms, SANS : Scale for the assessment of negative symptoms,

APD : antipsychotic drugs, APD doses : chlorpromazine equivalent doses33)

Table 2

Hit rates of control group, UHR group and schizophrenia group

Table 3

Reaction time of control group, UHR group and schizophrenia group

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