Citation

Barrett EA, Sundet K, Simonsen C, Agartz I, Lorentzen S, Mehlum L, Mork E, Andreassen OA, Melle I. Compr. Psychiatry 2011; 52(2): 156-163.

Affiliation

Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.06.001

PMID

21295222

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether suicide attempters had higher IQ, better executive functioning, or were more impulsive as measured by neuropsychological tests than non-attempters in a group of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. METHOD: One hundred seventy-four patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were assessed with a clinical interview for diagnosis, suicidality, symptoms and function, and underwent an extensive neurocognitive test battery. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in any neurocognitive domains between lifetime suicide attempters and non-attempters, or between patients with different rates of suicide attempts. Currently suicidal patients were significantly more impulsive (had poorer inhibitory control) than currently non-suicidal patients, but this difference was mediated by positive psychotic symptoms. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, there are no significant differences in IQ or neurocognitive functioning between suicide attempters and non-attempters.

Language: en