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A Meta-Analysis of Cognitive Deficits in Adults with a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia

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Abstract

This review identified 1275 studies examining cognitive deficits in people with schizophrenia, published between 1990 and 2003. Data from 113 studies (4365 patients and 3429 controls) were combined in a meta-analysis carried out on the five cognitive domains of IQ, memory, language, executive function, and attention. Studies were excluded where they lacked a suitable control group or failed to present complete information. In all five cognitive domains, analysis indicated a consistent trend for patients to perform more poorly than healthy controls, with significant heterogeneity across studies. Sources of heterogeneity were analyzed and a need to ensure more appropriate composition of patient and control groups and to adopt a more refined and methodologically correct, hypothesis-driven approach was identified.

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Fioravanti, M., Carlone, O., Vitale, B. et al. A Meta-Analysis of Cognitive Deficits in Adults with a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia. Neuropsychol Rev 15, 73–95 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-005-6254-9

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