Neuropsychological assessment of functional central nervous system disorders. I. Hemispheric functioning characteristics in schizophrenia and affective illness.

The neuropsychological characteristics of a group of schizophrenic and affective patients were assessed by mean of a comprehensive neuropsychological tool, the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Batter (LNNB), to determine the lateralized hemispheric neurofunctional characteristics in major functional central nervous system disorders. The results showed that schizophrenics had more right-hemisphere impairment than affectives. They do not substantiate the hypothesis of right hemisphere-lateralized malfunctioning in functional mood disorders. Psychopharmacological treatment influences neuropsychological test performance, neuroleptics having the greatest effects. Pharmacological effects other than anticholinergic ones are responsible for the negative influence on neuropsychological test performance.