Psychometric variables of the EMUN-AR scale using Rasch analysis.

Introduction: Self-report scales have been considered to be useful for evaluating and monitoring symptoms of manic-depressive illnesses. The EMUN-AR scale is one of such scales but it has not been validated. Objective: To validate the EMUN-AR scale using Rasch models.

Neurocognitive subtypes of schizophrenia.

Objective: To empirically identify schizophrenia neurocognitive subtypes and establish their association with clinical characteristics.

Methods: Sustained attention, executive function, facial emotion recognition, verbal learning, and working memory tests were applied to 253 subjects with schizophrenia. We identified neurocognitive subtypes by a latent class analysis of the tests results.

Verbal working memory in individuals with schizophrenia and their first degree relatives: relationship with negative and disorganized symptoms.

Objective: To determine whether there are differences in verbal working memory amongst subjects with schizophrenia, their first degree relatives and controls, and to evaluate the influence of symptoms on these differences, as an initial step to assess whether this cognitive function is an endophenotype.

Methods: We examined 197 cases with schizophrenia, 197 first degree relatives and 200 controls through psychiatric interviews and the Letters and Numbers Sequencing test (LNS). Performance was compared among the three groups adjusting for age, sex and education level.

[Age at Onset as a Marker of Subtypes of Manic-Depressive Illness].

Introduction: Age at onset of bipolar disorder has been reported as a variable that may be associated with different clinical subtypes.

Objective: To identify patterns in the distributions of age at onset of bipolar disease and to determine whether age at onset is associated with specific clinical characteristics.

Methods: Admixture analysis was applied to identify bipolar disorder subtypes according to age at onset.