Language in schizophrenia and aphasia: The relationship with non-verbal cognition and thought disorder

Little, Bethany; Gallagher, Peter; Zimmerer, Vitor; Varley, Rosemary; Douglas, Maggie; Spencer, Helen; �okal, Derya; Deamer, Felicity; Turkington, Douglas; Ferrier, I. Nicol; Hinzen, Wolfram; Watson, Stuart

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship between language abnormalities and broader cognitive impairment and thought disorder by examining language and cognition in schizophrenia and aphasia (a primary language disorder). Methods: Cognitive and linguistic profiles were measured with a battery of standardised tests, and compared in a clinical population of n = 50 (n = 30 with schizophrenia and n = 20 with aphasia) and n = 61 non-clinical comparisons (n = 45 healthy controls and n = 16 non-affected first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia). Results: Both clinical groups showed linguistic deficits. Verbal impairment was more severe in participants with aphasia, whereas non-verbal performance was more affected in participants with schizophrenia. In schizophrenia, but not in aphasia, verbal and non-verbal performance were associated. Formal thought disorder was associated with impairment in executive function and in grammatical, but not naming, tasks. Conclusion: While patients with schizophrenia and aphasia showed language impairments, the nature and cognitive basis of these impairments may be different; language performance disassociates from broader cognitive functioning in aphasia but may be an intrinsic expression of a broader cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Thought disorder may represent a core malfunction of grammatical processing. Results suggests that communicative ability may be a valid target in cognitive remediation strategies in schizophrenia.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 21, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Sep 25, 2019
• Publication Date: Nov 2, 2019
• Deposit Date: Sep 21, 2021
• Journal: Cognitive Neuropsychiatry
• Print ISSN: 1354-6805
• Electronic ISSN: 1464-0619
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 389-405
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13546805.2019.1668758
• Keywords: Psychiatry and Mental health; Cognitive Neuroscience
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7816038
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=pcnp20; Received: 2018-05-31; Accepted: 2019-09-04; Published: 2019-09-25