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Dissertation
Rate of forgetting in chronic schizophrenia in relation to positive and negative typologies of schizophrenia
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
1997
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00007527
Abstract
The purpose of the current research was to examine the relatively unexplored aspect of memory functioning in schizophrenia known as savings scores. Positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia were evaluated with the Schedule for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Schedule for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) and compared to savings scores. Positive symptoms reflect over-productive mental activities such as hallucinations, delusions, formal thought disorder, and bizarre or disorganized behavior. Negative symptoms reflect under-productive mental functions such as marked poverty of speech, poverty of content of speech, flat affect, an inability to experience pleasure, and impairments in attention. There is a growing body of evidence that implicates portions of the limbic system (i.e., hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and amygdala) in the neuropathology of schizophrenia. These neuroanatomical structures are thought to be responsible for encoding, storing and retaining new information. Deficient savings scores have been linked to dysfunction of this hippocampal circuit. In the present study, 50 normal controls and 50 inpatients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia were administered a battery of standardized memory tests and rating scales for positive and negative symptoms. The current study was unique as it systematically evaluated savings scores in relation to positive and negative symptoms. It was predicted that negative symptoms would predict savings scores on memory testing. It was also predicted that there would be a negative relationship between savings scores and negative symptoms. Higher negative symptom scores were predicted to be associated with lower savings scores. A comparison of SANS and SAPS scores was made between the schizophrenic group and control soup. Next, the two groups were compared on savings scores using a MANCOVA. There were significant differences between the groups on SANS/SAPS and savings scores. Multiple Regressions revealed there were certain core negative symptoms of schizophrenia which predicted savings scores. Implications for the neuropsychology of schizophrenia were discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Rate of forgetting in chronic schizophrenia in relation to positive and negative typologies of schizophrenia
- Creators
- Carl Alan Steed
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- vii, 118 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021889112504721