Temperament and executive dysfunctions in schizophrenia

François Guillem, Tania Pampoulova, Melissa Rinaldi, Emmanuel Stip

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that both executive dysfunction and personality traits combine with symptoms to affect the social outcome of persons with schizophrenia. This study was designed to investigate how personality traits influence executive function in schizophrenia. Forty-four patients with schizophrenia and twenty-two healthy subjects were assessed for personality using the temperament and character inventory. Different aspects of executive function were assessed using the Auditory Digit Span (forward and backward) and the Wickens' test for proactive interference and release. The results showed that the influences of the various temperament dimensions on specific aspects of executive functions differ between patients and healthy subjects. On some dimensions, schizophrenia appears to reduce the cognitive differences related to temperament. On other dimensions, schizophrenia tends to reverse the cognitive differences related to temperament observed in healthy people. These results suggest that the temperamental profile of schizophrenia patients may well be of important prognostic value in the planning of cognitive enhancement therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)175-184
Number of pages10
JournalSchizophrenia Research
Volume104
Issue number1-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Behavioral Activation System
  • Behavioral Inhibition System
  • Executive functions
  • Schizophrenia
  • Temperament

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

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