S Ittig1, E Studerus1, M Papmeyer1, M Uttinger1, S Koranyi2, A Ramyead1, A Riecher-Rössler3. 1. Psychiatric University Outpatient Department, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 2. Psychiatric University Outpatient Department, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Psychosocial Medicine and Psychotherapy, Jena, Germany. 3. Psychiatric University Outpatient Department, Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: anita.riecher-roessler@upkbs.ch.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several sex differences in schizophrenia have been reported including differences in cognitive functioning. Studies with schizophrenia patients and healthy controls (HC) indicate that the sex advantage for women in verbal domains is also present in schizophrenia patients. However, findings have been inconsistent. No study focused on sex-related cognitive performance differences in at-risk mental state for psychosis (ARMS) individuals yet. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate sex differences in cognitive functioning in ARMS, first episode psychosis (FEP) and HC subjects. We expected a better verbal learning and memory performance of women in all groups. METHODS: The neuropsychological data analysed in this study were collected within the prospective Früherkennung von Psychosen (FePsy) study. In total, 118 ARMS, 88 FEP individuals and 86 HC completed a cognitive test battery covering the domains of executive functions, attention, working memory, verbal learning and memory, IQ and speed of processing. RESULTS: Women performed better in verbal learning and memory regardless of diagnostic group. By contrast, men as compared to women showed a shorter reaction time during the working memory task across all groups. CONCLUSION: The results provide evidence that women generally perform better in verbal learning and memory, independent of diagnostic group (ARMS, FEP, HC). The finding of a shorter reaction time for men in the working memory task could indicate that men have a superior working memory performance since they responded faster during the target trials, while maintaining a comparable overall working memory performance level.
BACKGROUND: Several sex differences in schizophrenia have been reported including differences in cognitive functioning. Studies with schizophreniapatients and healthy controls (HC) indicate that the sex advantage for women in verbal domains is also present in schizophreniapatients. However, findings have been inconsistent. No study focused on sex-related cognitive performance differences in at-risk mental state for psychosis (ARMS) individuals yet. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate sex differences in cognitive functioning in ARMS, first episode psychosis (FEP) and HC subjects. We expected a better verbal learning and memory performance of women in all groups. METHODS: The neuropsychological data analysed in this study were collected within the prospective Früherkennung von Psychosen (FePsy) study. In total, 118 ARMS, 88 FEP individuals and 86 HC completed a cognitive test battery covering the domains of executive functions, attention, working memory, verbal learning and memory, IQ and speed of processing. RESULTS:Women performed better in verbal learning and memory regardless of diagnostic group. By contrast, men as compared to women showed a shorter reaction time during the working memory task across all groups. CONCLUSION: The results provide evidence that women generally perform better in verbal learning and memory, independent of diagnostic group (ARMS, FEP, HC). The finding of a shorter reaction time for men in the working memory task could indicate that men have a superior working memory performance since they responded faster during the target trials, while maintaining a comparable overall working memory performance level.
Authors: Stephanie Menghini-Müller; Erich Studerus; Sarah Ittig; Lucia R Valmaggia; Matthew J Kempton; Mark van der Gaag; Lieuwe de Haan; Barnaby Nelson; Rodrigo A Bressan; Neus Barrantes-Vidal; Célia Jantac; Merete Nordentoft; Stephan Ruhrmann; Garbiele Sachs; Bart P Rutten; Jim van Os; Anita Riecher-Rössler Journal: Eur Psychiatry Date: 2020-03-13 Impact factor: 5.361
Authors: Na Zhao; Xiao Hong Wang; Chuan Yi Kang; Yue Zheng; Li Ying Yang; Tie Feng Guan; Yun Xia Bai; Ran Wei; Hunter C Hinman; Xiang Yang Zhang Journal: Ann Gen Psychiatry Date: 2021-04-21 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Laura Egloff; Erich Studerus; Ronan Zimmermann; Ulrike Heitz; Stephanie Menghini-Müller; Sarah Ittig; Katharina Beck; Christina Andreou; Stefan Borgwardt; Anita Riecher-Rössler Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-05-10 Impact factor: 3.240