Symptomatic remission in schizophrenia patients: relationship with social functioning, quality of life, and neurocognitive performance.
Abstract Purpose To investigate whether symptomatic remission relates to better outcomes in schizophrenia. Methods Seventy-six schizophrenia patients were assessed using measures of cross-sectional symptomatic remission, social functioning, subjective quality of life (QoL), and cognition. Results Most patients (53; 69.7%) were not in remission. Remitted patients presented significantly better social functioning, better self-reported QoL, insight, and lower levels of depressive symptoms. They also showed a non-significant trend for better executive function, processing speed and verbal memory. Conclusions Symptomatic remission may be a good indicator of better clinical status, social functio…
Pharmacological approaches in bipolar disorders and the impact on cognition: a critical overview
Dias VV, Balanza-Martinez V, Soeiro-de-Souza MG, Moreno RA, Figueira ML, Machado-Vieira R, Vieta E. Pharmacological approaches in bipolar disorders and the impact on cognition: a critical overview. Objective: Historically, pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorders (BD) have been associated with neurocognitive side-effects. We reviewed studies which assessed the impact of several psychopharmacological drugs on the neurocognitive function of BD patients. Method: The PubMed database was searched for studies published between January 1980 and February 2011, using the following terms: bipolar, bipolar disorder, mania, manic episode, or bipolar depression, cross-referenced with cognitive…