Marginal relationship between affective dispositions and neurocognitive function in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Abstract

Purpose

Neurocognitive outcomes are frequently used as indicators of real-world functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). These test results may be influenced by individual differences, such as affective dispositions. Here we investigate the relationship between positive and negative affect and neuropsychological test scores in a large, mixed-gender, population based group of participants without co-morbid substance abuse.

Materials and methods

We assessed 129 male and female SSD patients with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery.

Results and conclusions

The neuropsychological test scores were mainly predicted by age and gender, with small contributions from negative psychosis symptoms. There was a statistically significant relationship between Positive Affect and processing speed and between Negative Affect and verbal memory and executive function. However, the level of neurocognitive function variance explained by these affects was only 5%. Thus, the neurocognitive test results were not associated with trait affect in any clinically significant manner. This adds to previous findings of no relationship between affective dispositions and psychosis symptom variables in our participants. We suggest that affective traits constitute an independent dimension that may influence well-being, coping, and real-life outcome in SSD patients directly, and not through neurocognitive function.

Keywords:

• Affect
• neurocognition
• PANAS
• psychosis
• schizophrenia

Acknowledgements

The administrative and technical assistance of Veronica Ahl, Britt-Marie Hansson, Maivor Olsson-Tall, and Ruth Johannsson is gratefully acknowledged. Dr. Fredrik Hjärthag provided valuable theoretical and clinical advice.

Geolocal information

The study was performed in Western Sweden.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

Dr. Helldin designed the study and wrote the protocol. Dr. Olsson was in charge of data collection. Drs. Helldin and Mohn performed the statistical analyses. Dr. Mohn performed the literature search and drafted the paper. Drs. Johansson and Moradi participated in interpretation of data and drafting the paper. All authors contributed to and approved of the final version of the paper.

Notes on contributors

Christine Mohn is a Norwegian psychologist with a PhD in experiemental pain research; Lars Helldin is a Swedish physician and psychiatrist with a PhD in schizophrenia research; Anna-Karin Olsson is a Swedish occupational therapist with a PhD in schizophrenia research; Madeleine Johansson is a Swedish psychologist and PhD research fellow; Hawar Moradi is a Swedish physician and PhD researh fellow.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Regional Health Authority, VG Region, Sweden, as a general grant for research and development. The funding body had no impact on the data analyses or manuscript preparation. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.