The Timing of Cognitive Impairments in Psychotic Disorders

Patients with Psychotic disorders (Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder and Schizoaffective disorder) often suffer from significant cognitive impairments, however how these develop and change over time before and after the first psychotic break is unclear. While there are data by several groups, showing that many future patients have significant cognitive impairments years before the onset of psychosis, many future patients seem to be doing well before the manifestation of psychosis, and decline steeply in functioning after their first psychotic episode. Hence the timing of the onset of cognitive impairment in patients with psychotic disorders requires further exploration. The current study will investigate the timing of cognitive impairment by using IQ tests before and after the first psychotic break