The association of insight with psychotic symptoms, depression, and cognition in early psychosis: a 3-year follow-up.

Recent research has begun to examine the level of insight following a first episode of psychosis since this may have implications for outcome. Insight was investigated in 278 individuals consecutively admitted to a comprehensive early psychosis treatment program. Insight, symptoms and cognition were assessed on admission and after one, two and three years.

Influence of social perception and social knowledge on cognitive and social functioning in early psychosis.

Background: Social cognition has been implicated in the relationship between cognition and social functioning.

Aims: To test the hypothesis that social cognition mediates the relationship between cognitive and social functioning.

Method: This was a 1-year longitudinal cohort study comparing three groups: 50 people with first-episode psychosis, 53 people with multi-episode schizophrenia and 55 people without psychiatric disorder as controls.

Impact of haloperidol, a dopamine D2 antagonist, on cognition and mood.

Blocking dopamine (DA) D(2) receptors is the sine qua non of antipsychotic activity. However, it is this same process that accounts for their liability to produce extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and hyperprolactinemia. It remains unclear, though, whether there are other negative consequences that might result from DA D(2) blockade.

Facial affect recognition: a mediator between cognitive and social functioning in psychosis?

Background: Facial affect recognition has been implicated in the relationship between cognition and social functioning. This 1-year longitudinal study tested the hypothesis that facial affect recognition mediates the relationship between cognitive and social functioning.

Method: Three groups were included: 50 first-episode of psychosis (FE) subjects, 53 multi-episode schizophrenia subjects (ME) and 55 non-psychiatric controls (NPC).

The course of cognitive functioning in first episode psychosis: changes over time and impact on outcome.

This three year longitudinal study examined the cognitive performance of 247 individuals who recently presented with a first episode of psychosis. Using a comprehensive battery of cognitive tests, we assessed cognition at baseline, 1 year and 2-year follow-ups. Assessments also included positive and negative symptoms, depression, social outcome and substance use.

Effect of loxapine on peripheral dopamine-like and serotonin receptors in patients with schizophrenia.

Objective: To investigate the effect of loxapine on peripheral dopamine D2-like and serotonin receptor binding and on psychotic symptoms.

Patients: Patients (n = 24) meeting the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, for schizophrenia were selected from an outpatient clinic (age range 18-70 yr).

Methods: Patients were given loxapine (dose determined by a physician) for a period of 12 weeks.