Catherine Lehoux

This study examined the influence of the assessment methods in detecting social anxiety disorders (SAD). We used a two-stage procedure to elicit social anxiety symptoms (SAS) to diagnose SAD in 80 people with a schizophrenia spectrum psychotic disorder (SZSPD) from an early intervention program. We observed a 28.8% lifetime prevalence of SAD when considering only the SAS elicited using the SCID probes (first stage), and a significant increase to 48.8% after adding the probes from the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (second stage). In conclusion, the LSAS can increase the sensitivity in detecting SAS and hence SAD comorbid to SZSPD.

This is the first study to report a direct comparison of neuropsychological performance in Kraepelinian vs. non-Kraepelinian schizophrenia (SZ). 17 Kraepelinian and 19 non-Kraepelinian subjects were assessed on a neuropsychological battery including the Purdue Pegboard, Schwartz' Reaction Time task, the Modified Card Sorting Test, the Wechsler's Associate Learning Test and the Digit Span. Kraepelinian schizophrenia was characterized by more impaired performance on the Purdue Pegboard and the Card Sorting test. These differences remained significant when introducing, as covariates, the type of neuroleptic used, the use of anticholinergic medication, age and gender. Differences on the Reaction Time, the Associate Learning and the Digit Span tasks did not reach statistical significance. These results suggest that Kraepelinian schizophrenia is characterized by impaired performance on fine motor dexterity and executive functioning. These results further add to the evidence for the validity of the distinction between Kraepelinian and non-Kraepelinian schizophrenia as a strategy to better understand the factors influencing severity and/or outcome in schizophrenia.

General Purpose: Twenty principal component analyses of the PANSS revealed that a five-factor solution representing positive, negative, disorganization, depression/anxiety and excitability/hostility symptoms better explained the scale structure than the original three-subscale solution. Our goal was to identify to which of these five factors each of the PANSS items could be attributed based on the consistency of published factor analyses. Methodology: For each study reporting a five-factor solution, the items were assigned to any of the five factors according to the factor on which it had the strongest factor loading. Items were then rated as reaching or not our between-study stability criteria of 70% of agreement. Results: Ten items did not meet our stability criteria: Grandiosity, Stereotyped thinking, Somatic concern, Tension, Mannerism/posturing, Disorientation, Lack of judgment/insight, Disturbance of volition, Preoccupation, and Active social avoidance. Conclusions: A broad and a narrow definition o...

To identify neuropsychological domains, including fine motor dexterity, that are related to social functioning in schizophrenia. Thirty-six DSM-IV schizophrenic subjects were assessed using the Purdue Pegboard test, the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting test, the Tower of London, Schwartz' Reaction Time and Wechsler's Associate Learning and Digit Span tests. Social functioning was measured by the Social and Occupational Functional Assessment Scale. Univariate regression analyses showed that the Purdue Pegboard, the Modified Card Sorting test, the Tower of London and Wechsler's Associate Learning subtest were significantly linked to social functioning. The best fitting multivariate model to explain social functioning included fine motor dexterity and executive functioning. Various neuropsychological measures correlated to social functioning, the correlation involving fine motor dexterity being the strongest one. Future studies of the prediction of social functioning in schizophrenia should include fine motor dexterity.