Relationship between subjective and objective cognitive function in the early and late prodrome.

Background: Cognitive disturbances have been demonstrated in individuals with potentially prodromal symptoms in objective-neuropsychological as well as subjective-symptomatic studies. Yet, the relation between subjective and objective deficits and to different prodromal states is unclear.

Aims: To explore interactions between subjective and objective cognitive measures in different prodromal states.

Method: In participants with an early (n=33) or late (n=69) initial prodromal state, cognitive subjective and objective deficits were assessed with the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery.

Results: Participants with an early initial prodromal state were less impaired than those with a late initial state. Subjective and objective cognitive deficits were unrelated, except time-limited neurocognitive speed measures and subjectively reduced stress tolerance, especially in participants with an early initial prodromal state.

Conclusions: Subjective and objective cognitive deficits are generally unrelated in the psychosis prodrome and as such they can add complementary information valuable for prediction. However, possible associations between the two levels might be better detectable in the less impaired early initial prodromal state.