Neurocognitive profile in Indian individuals genetically at risk of schizophrenia

Background: Cognitive deficits have been noted in patients of schizophrenia in remission, as well as in first-degree relatives. This study aims to evaluate the neurocognitive performance in unaffected first-degree relatives of patients of schizophrenia in comparison with healthy controls, as well as patients of schizophrenia in remission. Methods: It was a 1-year case-control study by purposive sampling. Patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, first-degree relatives of patients of schizophrenia, and controls from nongenetic relatives of patients were recruited as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Samples were matched for age and educational status. The General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ-28) screened them and they were checked for remission by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and then subjected to various instruments for assessment of neurocognition, standardized for the Indian population. To remove the effect of symptoms as confounding factors, PANSS score of <3 for each individual item was set as the criterion for remission. Intelligence quotient (IQ) was screened in all participants to exclude mental retardation. Statistical analysis used was the analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc Fisher's least significant difference (LSD). Results: Significant neurocognitive impairments were detected in the patients and first-degree relatives when compared with the control subjects. The most common impairment in the patient group was in speed of processing, and among unaffected first-degree relatives, it was in the working memory. Conclusion: Indian individuals genetically at risk of schizophrenia showed significant neurocognitive impairments in all domains compared with controls.