Evaluating the effects of antipsychotics on cognition in schizophrenia. Collaborative Working Group on Clinical Trial Evaluations.

Cognitive deficits are an integral feature of schizophrenia and have a deleterious effect on the ability of schizophrenic patients to work and function in a social environment. Drugs that bring about substantial cognitive improvement represent a major contribution in improving the quality of life in schizophrenia. Recent studies have suggested that the atypical antipsychotics may be more useful than conventional agents for improving cognition. There is evidence that scores on neuropsychological assessments have improved after treatment with clozapine, risperidone, and quetiapine. Future research is needed to characterize and quantify the cognitive effects of the atypical antipsychotics.