Shaynna N Herrera1, Vance Zemon2, Nadine Revheim3, Gail Silipo3, James Gordon4, Pamela D Butler5. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, USA. Electronic address: Shaynna.herrera@mssm.edu. 2. Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, USA. 3. Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA. 4. Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA. 5. Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in visual contrast processing, though less is known about how these deficits impact neurocognition and functional outcomes. This study investigated effects of contrast sensitivity (CS) on cognition and capacity for independent living in schizophrenia. METHODS: Participants were 58 patients with schizophrenia (n = 49) and schizoaffective disorder (n = 9). Patients completed a psychophysical paradigm to obtain CS with stimuli consisting of grating patterns of low (0.5 and 1 cycles/degree) and high spatial frequencies (4, 7, 21 cycles/degree). Patients completed the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, Third Edition to assess cognition, and the problem-solving factor of the Independent Living Scales to assess functional capacity. We computed bivariate correlation coefficients for all pairs of variables and tested mediation models with CS to low (CS-LSF) and high spatial frequencies (CS-HSF) as predictors, cognitive measures as mediators, and capacity for independent living as an outcome. RESULTS: Cognition mediated the relationship between CS and independent living with CS-LSF a stronger predictor than CS-HSF. Mediation effects were strongest for perceptual organization and memory-related domains. In an expanded moderated mediation model, CS-HSF was found to be a significant predictor of independent living through perceptual organization as a mediator and CS-LSF as a moderator of this relationship. CONCLUSION: CS relates to functional capacity in schizophrenia through neurocognition. These relationships may inform novel visual remediation interventions.
BACKGROUND: Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in visual contrast processing, though less is known about how these deficits impact neurocognition and functional outcomes. This study investigated effects of contrast sensitivity (CS) on cognition and capacity for independent living in schizophrenia. METHODS: Participants were 58 patients with schizophrenia (n = 49) and schizoaffective disorder (n = 9). Patients completed a psychophysical paradigm to obtain CS with stimuli consisting of grating patterns of low (0.5 and 1 cycles/degree) and high spatial frequencies (4, 7, 21 cycles/degree). Patients completed the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, Third Edition to assess cognition, and the problem-solving factor of the Independent Living Scales to assess functional capacity. We computed bivariate correlation coefficients for all pairs of variables and tested mediation models with CS to low (CS-LSF) and high spatial frequencies (CS-HSF) as predictors, cognitive measures as mediators, and capacity for independent living as an outcome. RESULTS: Cognition mediated the relationship between CS and independent living with CS-LSF a stronger predictor than CS-HSF. Mediation effects were strongest for perceptual organization and memory-related domains. In an expanded moderated mediation model, CS-HSF was found to be a significant predictor of independent living through perceptual organization as a mediator and CS-LSF as a moderator of this relationship. CONCLUSION: CS relates to functional capacity in schizophrenia through neurocognition. These relationships may inform novel visual remediation interventions.
Authors: Brian F O'Donnell; Andrew Bismark; William P Hetrick; Misty Bodkins; Jenifer L Vohs; Anantha Shekhar Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2006-07-10 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Nadine Revheim; Cheryl M Corcoran; Elisa Dias; Esther Hellmann; Antigona Martinez; Pamela D Butler; Jonathan M Lehrfeld; Joanna DiCostanzo; Jennifer Albert; Daniel C Javitt Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2014-09 Impact factor: 18.112