A longitudinal study in the journal Schizophrenia Research examines cognitive functioning in patients diagnosed with first-episode psychosis (FEP). After six months of treatment, the researchers found that reduced usage of antipsychotics was associated with better executive functioning.
âClinicians should carefully consider changing drug doses in terms of quantity and or frequency it is taken, when psychopathology severity has declined, and use a lowest-dose strategy whenever possible. . . an individual approach is recommended whenever any antipsychotic dosage change is considered,â the researchers write.
Cognitive Functioning is a complex construct that is currently measured within the field of psychology as a constellation of âdomainsâ including, among others: working memory, attention, and executive function. Despite the complexity and interrelatedness of these constructs, the field is still working on developing a clearer understanding of the course of cognitive impairment in persons diagnosed with psychosis. Even more complex is understanding the impact that antipsychotics have on cognitive functioning.
Moreover, traditionally studies measure and assess cognitive functioning through objective measures and tasks. Interestingly, this study included a measure of subjective cognitive functioning, which, they argue, can provide a better understanding of the impact of the changes in cognitive functioning in the clientâs everyday life.
The authors cite past studies which have “highlighted problems with the ecological validity of traditional neuropsychological assessments, particularly in terms of their ability to reveal patients’ actual level of everyday functioning, and have suggested not to assess the scope of cognitive functioning of psychotic patients with only neuropsychological test performances.â
While antipsychotics are the traditional treatment for psychosis, their impact on cognition remains controversial, with evidence only existing to support antipsychotic use as beneficial during the first year of illness. The study authors highlight a 2003 study finding that antipsychotic dose was negatively related to learning and recall abilities. Similarly, other studies found an association between higher doses and poorer global cognition scores. The present study attempts to add to our understanding of the effects of long-term AP usage on cognitive functioning.
The researchers aimed to identify factors (such as age, gender, educational level, etc.) that could be related to cognitive change among the participants, how the participants perceived their cognitive functioning and the stability of their cognitive score rank.
Eightyâfive patients identified as having experienced a first-episode of psychosis never having received antipsychotic treatment were administered a neuropsychological test battery after stabilization. At follow-up, all had been treated with atypical antipsychotics and some with neuroleptics. Follow-up assessments were completed six months after baseline. Cognitive functioning was assessed with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Subjectively perceived cognitive functioning was evaluated using the âmental functioningâ subscale that includes the items; âI find it easy to thinkâ, âI am imaginative and full of ideasâ, âMy thinking is difficult and slowâ, âMy thoughts are flighty and undirected,” and “it is difficult to think clearly.”
The first aim of the study was to assess cognitive changes in persons with an FEP diagnosis. There was a significant deviation from their predicted scores at follow-up in episodic memory, processing speed, mental flexibility, and executive functioning. Cognitive test scores were related to age, gender, education level and some clinical characteristics. Gender was a significant predictor of set-shifting, executive functioning, spatial working memory, and working memory, in that males outperformed females. Which demonstrates, within this sample, a more noticeable cognitive decline in the female participants.
Longer time in education predicted less change in set-shifting and a bigger change in speed of processing. Being of younger age was related to more change in spatial recognition memory, episodic memory, and spatial working memory. Older age was associated with a greater change in strategy score in spatial working memory. Overall, patientâs ârankâ on cognitive functioning was very stable over time.
After six months of treatment, spatial recognition and episodic memory declined, while mental flexibility, executive functioning, manipulation, and information processing improved, and there was no change in pattern recognition memory or working memory. However, it is important to note that the objective measures of cognitive functioning did not correlate with the subjective measures of cognitive functioning which were used to get a picture of the patientâs perception of their cognitive functioning.
The researchers stress the point that cognition is a complex construct not only to define but also to measure. The authors of this study point out the need to be cautious of practice effects when assessing cognitive functioning, especially when evaluating executive functioning as it relies on novelty. Therefore, the results may not signify improvement but instead stability or deficit.
Overall, cognitive functioning is a complex construct to capture. However, with the tools available currently, this study showed that there is a decline in learning and memory after six months of treatment with antipsychotics. Rank of performance on cognitive tests was stable over time.
Regarding antipsychotic dosage, this study found that reduced dosage mediated an improvement in working memory and executive functioning. While the subjective and objective measure of cognitive functioning were not correlated, it is still advised that both methods be utilized. The differences could be a result of the difference in conceptualizations of cognition between neuropsychologists and patients. If the patients and the psychologists do not define the construct the same way it would not be surprising that the two scores are then not related or representative of one another.
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Haring, L., MĂľttus, R., Kajalaid, K., Koch, K., Uppin, K., Maron, E., & Vasar, E. (2016). The course of cognitive functioning after first-episode of psychosis: A six-month follow-up study. Schizophrenia Research. (Abstract)
These drugs reduce the brain and suppress enthusiasm – this is how they work. The cognitive deficiency and the negative symptoms of “schizophrenia” are caused by “antipsychotics”.
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“Even more complex is understanding the impact that antipsychotics have on cognitive functioning.” If the “professionals” would actually listen to your clients, who are the people who actually know “the impact that antipsychotics have on cognitive functioning,” it would not be so “complex” for you to understand “the impact that antipsychotics have on cognitive functioning.”
The only way I could survive and thrive while on these toxic torture drugs was to put absolutely all my activities in my calendar, and live by my calendar. In other words, the antipsychotics/neuroleptics destroy cognitive functioning. I was even given some sort of test according to my medical records, when not taking antipsychotics my IQ is in the borderline genius range, when I was on the antipsychotics my IQ was borderline moron, or whatever term you use.
And I’m pretty certain that’s the intent of those psychologists and psychiatrists who force these toxic torture drugs onto millions of child abuse victims and their concerned parents, isn’t it? Today, “the prevalence of childhood trauma exposure within borderline personality disorder patients has been evidenced to be as high as 92% (Yen et al., 2002). Within individuals diagnosed with psychotic or affective disorders, it reaches 82% (Larsson et al., 2012).” All these DSM defamed child abuse victims are force fed the antipsychotics.
The antipsychotics/neuroleptics also can create the negative symptoms of “schizophrenia” via neuroleptic induced deficit syndrome and the positive symptoms of “schizophrenia” via anticholinergic toxidrome.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroleptic Induced_Deficit_Syndrome
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxidrome
I do so hope the psychological and psychiatric industries some day get out of the business of profiteering off of covering up child abuse en mass, since it appears this sin has resulted in the child molesters and child traffickers being empowered to the extent that these child predators took over our government. #Pizzagate #Pedogate
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I would say much of the “deterioration” psychiatrists see in long term patients is probably directly attributable to the psych-drug regimen they receive.
Reduced neuroleptic dosage, in this study, for First Episode Psychotics is associated with improved cognition, is it? They should try reducing the dose to nothing then, and see what happens.
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In other news, scientists have discovered that striking people in the head with a hammer repeatedly leads to both head pain and cognitive decline. It is unclear whether this is due to the particular kind of hammer used or a genetic vulnerability to hammer strikes, or perhaps simply the course of sore head disease causing the deterioration.
— Steve
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Or “Study Explores Cognitive Effects of a lobotomy”
“the more antipsychotics patients receive, the more likely they are to have a decreased amount of grey matter.” http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110207/full/news.2011.75.html
Cutting the legs off a frog, then surprised when the frog doesn’t jump any more, or reattaching the legs then wondering why the frog doesn’t jump like it did .
Those in power are insane.
They have to prove a deficit or imbalance in brain chemicals to justify the addition of a drug to a healthy patient, and they can not.
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I read the article in Nature, and especially enjoyed this comment by the primary researcher:
Ho acknowledges that his study is marred by the lack of a placebo control group â for ethical reasons, patients cannot be deprived of the medications they need
In this country you can’t find a group of people with a psychotic disorder who are antipsychotic “naive” as they say – never treated with these drugs. Robert
Whitaker talks about this in Anatomy of an Epidemic.
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Due to lack of a placebo group there are no valid studies proving that the patients need these “medications.” That is circular reasoning in action.
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Lol, Steve.
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Good one Steve! It’s amazing how stupid and ignorant “scientific” professionals can be when it serves their purposes. And their own heads are safe from hammers.
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A Piano Lesson
“Under my tutelage, you will play the piano better than Rachmaninov himself.”
“But you have cut off my hands.”
“This is a very good quality piano, and I would like you to play it now.”
“I can’t play it because you have cut off my hands.”
More at
http://web.archive.org/web/20070819163127/http://trick-cyclingforbeginners.blogspot.com:80/2007/04/piano-lesson.html
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The music might be dull, but he can play without making ANY mistakes!
— Steve
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Ugh! Reminds me of all the “nutrition” workshops I endured under the category of “Day Treatment.”
Why are you all so fat? I’m not as fat as you are. You must be ignorant of nutrition, you’re lazy, or you just eat too much.
News Flash! Psych drugs cause massive weight gains. For a long time the “experts” claimed Risperdol did not cause weight gain. It was supposedly all my fault when I gained 60 pounds in 3 months eating 500 calories a day and exercising like crazy. In my book, this form of gas lighting/lying is emotional abuse.
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Its a bit like claiming cigarettes don’t cause breathing restriction lung cancer and heart disease.
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At least there aren’t a bunch of quacks posing as doctors forcing people to smoke 4 packs a day and then marveling at the high rates of cancer and heart disease in their patients. Must have been due to the preexisting condition they were treating with tobacco therapy.
If you want even a small chance to lose weight you have to go off your psych drugs! That’s all.
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Reducing the debilitating dose of massive tranquillisers allows the victim to think more clearly ??
I am now off to drive my car. I will talk on the phone whilst doing so because, although I have had a couple of accidents in the past, I was not talking on the phone at the time. Furthermore, when I have talked on the phone whilst driving I have never had an accident. This is sufficient evidence that talking on the phone whilst driving is a reasonable accident prevention measure.
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