Biomedical subjects

Barbara H Sauter

Publications and source records attributed to Barbara H Sauter.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Visual object working memory function and clinical symptoms in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: The presence of working memory deficits suggests abnormalities of prefrontal cortex (PFC) in schizophrenia. Although much is known about spatial working memory deficits in schizophrenia, including its potential as a phenotypic marker, it is unclear whether object working memory is similarly affected. Our goal was to examine nonspatial, object working memory function in relation to clinical symptoms. METHODS: We assessed object working memory and clinical symptoms in 28 schizophrenia patients during acute psychotic episode and 4 months later during partial remission. Delayed-matching-to-sample tasks for familiar object (DMTS-F) and novel shapes (DMTS-N) were used. Symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). 33 age-matched normal subjects were also tested over the same time period. RESULTS: Acutely psychotic patients showed deficits in both DMTS-F and DMTS-N. Four months later, their DMTS-F performance improved significantly but deficits in DMTS-N were still present. During acute psychosis, symptoms correlated with DMTS-F but not with the DMTS-N. Four months later, negative symptoms correlated with both tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Object working memory as measured by DMTS-N was impaired in schizophrenia patients during both acute and chronic states. When schizophrenia patients were in partial remission, object working memory was associated with negative symptoms.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

Spatial selective attention and inhibition in schizophrenia patients during acute psychosis and at 4-month follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Attentional abnormalities may lie at the core of cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia, but it is unclear how they relate to symptoms. The major aim of our study was to understand the relation between spatial attention and clinical symptoms from acute to chronic state. METHODS: Thirty-six acutely psychotic schizophrenia patients and 42 matched control subjects were assessed on three spatial attention measures: target location detection, interference (concurrent inhibition of distractor), and negative priming (subsequent inhibition of distractor). Symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Assessment Scale. Four months later, the same subjects were re-tested, and symptoms were re-assessed. RESULTS: Symptoms were significantly reduced at the follow-up. Schizophrenia patients were slower at detecting target location than control subjects, but they improved significantly over time. Schizophrenia patients and control subjects did not differ on the interference task. Negative priming was abolished during acute psychosis, but 4 months later it was restored. Positive symptoms were correlated with reduced negative priming but not with interference, nor with target detection. Negative priming during acute psychosis was significantly correlated with the clinical symptoms at the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that reduced negative priming may be associated with increased clinical, symptoms especially the positive symptoms.

Acute Disease↗