Interview-based assessment of cognition in schizophrenia: applicability of the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS) in different phases of illness and settings of care.

The Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS), an interview-based assessment of cognition, has proved to be a valid measure of cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia. The aims of this study were to analyze the validity of this scale in a naturalistic setting representative of the Italian system of psychiatric care, and to test whether the SCoRS could be appropriately used in different phases of illness and contexts of care. Eighty-six patients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV-TR criteria) (N = 59 clinically stabilized patients; N = 27 recently hospitalized patients) were administered the SCoRS. The reliability of SCoRS was assessed and global ratings were correlated with neurocognitive, clinical, and psychosocial functioning measures. SCoRS inter-rater and test-retest reliability were high. In clinically stabilized patients, SCoRS global ratings were significantly correlated with composite scores of cognitive performance (global cognitive index: r = -0.570, P<0.001), symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score: r = 0.602, P < 0.001), and psychosocial functioning (Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF): r = -0.532, P<0.001; Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS): r = 0.433, P < 0.001). On the other hand, no such correlations were found in recently hospitalized patients. Correlations with neuropsychological and functional measures were less significant as the severity of the patients' symptoms, especially positive symptoms, increased. The SCoRS is a valid measure of cognitive performance and is related to psychosocial functioning, especially in clinically stable patients with schizophrenia. The usefulness of the SCoRS in patients recently admitted to hospital for an acute phase of illness is uncertain.

Vita A ，Deste G ，Barlati S ，De Peri L ，Giambra A ，Poli R ，Keefe RS ，Sacchetti E ... -  《-》

The Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale: an interview-based assessment and its relationship to cognition, real-world functioning, and functional capacity.

Keefe RS ，Poe M ，Walker TM ，Kang JW ，Harvey PD ... -  《AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY》

Performance and interview-based assessments of cognitive change in a randomized, double-blind comparison of lurasidone vs. ziprasidone.

Improving cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia is a major treatment goal. In addition, interview-based measures have been developed to supplement performance-based assessments. However, few data are available regarding whether interview-based measures are sensitive to treatment-related changes. Adult outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomized to 21 days of double-blind treatment with lurasidone 120 mg once daily (N=150) or ziprasidone 80 mg BID (N=151). A similar proportion of patients completed the study on lurasidone (67.5%) and ziprasidone (69.3%). Study participants were assessed with the majority of the tests from the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and an interview-based assessment of cognitive functioning, the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS). SCoRS ratings were based on the interviewer's best judgment, after interviews with the patient and a caregiver when available. The study was conducted from April 2006 to January 2007. There were no between-group treatment differences in performance on the MCCB or the SCoRS ratings. Lurasidone patients demonstrated significant within group-improvement from baseline on the MCCB composite score (p=0.026) and on the SCoRS (p<0.001), but ziprasidone patients did not improve on either the MCCB composite (p=0.254) or the SCoRS (p=0.185). At endpoint there was a statistical trend (p=0.058) for lurasidone to demonstrate greater improvement from baseline in SCoRS ratings. Improvements in interview-based aspects of cognition were not related to MCCB test changes, and had minimal correlations with changes in symptoms. These data suggest that interview-based cognitive measures such as the SCoRS may be sensitive to changes after 3weeks of treatment in patients with schizophrenia. Lurasidone is being assessed further in ongoing clinical trials with additional outcome measures.

Harvey PD ，Ogasa M ，Cucchiaro J ，Loebel A ，Keefe RS ... -  《-》

How specific are negative symptoms and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia? An analysis of PANSS and SCoRS.

Cruz BF ，de Resende CB ，Abreu MN ，Rocha FL ，Teixeira AL ，Keefe RS ，Salgado JV ... -  《-》

Clinical global impression of cognition in schizophrenia (CGI-CogS): reliability and validity of a co-primary measure of cognition.

Ventura J ，Cienfuegos A ，Boxer O ，Bilder R ... -  《SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH》