Subjective perception of cognitive deficit and performance in a neuropsychological battery in people with schizophrenia

The contradictory results of investigations into the ability of persons with schizophrenia, to perceive their cognitive deficits, could be explained by methodological factors, especially, differences in the instruments used and the functions evaluated. This study reports the results obtained by directly comparing, cognitive performance, and subjective report of daily difficulties arising from the same in a group of people with schizophrenia. Methods: 57 participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, between 18 and 55 years, clinically stable and with a demonstrated cognitive deficit. Cognitive performance was evaluated with the CogState battery, while the perception of patients was registered with the SSTICS scale. The performance in each cognitive function was specifically, correlated with the corresponding items of the scale. Results: The scores reported in the SSTICS scale, indicate a degree of mild to moderate difficulty, in all the functions assessed, without differences by age or gender. The analysis of correlation between the Cogstate battery and SSTICS scale, only shows a direct, statistically significant association, between the questions referring to difficulties in daily life and evaluations of attention and resolution of problems. Examining specific cognitive functions and the total score in the SSTICS, did not yield any significant associations. Discussion: The lack of correlation between the performance in the Cogstate battery and self-evaluation in the SSTICS scale, could be explained by the lack of perception of patients of their cognitive deficits.