Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2025.278
THE EFFECTS OF THIRD-GENERATION ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS ON THE PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA
Anna Spikina
; Institute of Mental Health, University "Reaviz", Saint Petersburg, Russia
Andrey Savelyev
; Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, North-Western State Medical University named after Mechnikov, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Anastasiya Odinets
; National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology named after V.M. Bekhterev Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia
Tatiana Korman
; SAGA Group, Samara Institute of Mental Health, Medical University "Reaviz", Samara, Russia
Sergey Musatov
; SAGA Group, Samara Institute of Mental Health, Medical University "Reaviz", Samara, Russia
Andrey Spikin
; First Medical University named after Pavlov, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Abstract
Background: The degree of cognitive impairment and verbal fluency are more important predictors of a patient's social rehabilitation than the severity of negative or positive symptoms. At the same time, researchers have confirmed and rejected linkages between linguistic functioning and certain cognitive functions in various studies. In several cases these correlations were observed, but did not reach any statistical significance. The aim of this study was to investigate and understand the effects of cognitive decline and impaired fluency on the social functioning of patients with schizophrenia, using a set of experimental psychological techniques on a homogeneous group of patients. Methods: The study involved 30 patients with paranoid schizophrenia. The average age of the patients was around 22 years. All patients received cariprazine in doses of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mg per day. Assessment was performed at baseline and after 8 months using a battery of neurocognitive tests, verbal fluency tests, social functioning scales, PANSS scale and adverse effect scales. Results: Assessment of higher cognitive functions through verbal fluency may provide a new approach to assessing social functioning. Since social engagement and social involvement usually require considerable effort, the ability of verbal fluency tests may help assess social functioning in a time-constrained clinical setting by both psychologists and psychiatrists, without additional training in clinical psychology. Subsequently, the impact of both antipsychotic treatment and neurocognitive training in improving social outcomes in patients with schizophrenia may be assessed. Comparisons of different antipsychotic medications and combination treatments and a longer-term assessment after 2-3 years of treatment are also needed. Conclusions: Verbal fluency deficits can serve as early indicators of cognitive decline and indicators of the success of psychosocial interventions, characterizing the clinical condition of patients and their social functioning.
Keywords
third-generation antipsychotic; schizophrenia; verbal fluency; social dysfunction
Hrčak ID:
344105
URI
Publication date:
20.9.2025.
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