Correlation between Allen cognitive level test and CANTAB in patients with Schizophrenia

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 MSc in Occupational therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (corresponding author)

2 Professor of Neuropsychology, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Lecturer of Occupation Therapy, PHD student of Occupation Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder and characterized by impairments in a wide range of cognitive domains. Allen Cognitive Level Screen has been usedextensively by occupational therapists as a quickscreening tool to derive a view of cognitive function in people with psychiatricdisabilities. Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) is a computerized neuropsychological assessment battery which is commonly used to assess an executive functioning. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between two measures of executive function used by different disciplines (Allen cognitive level test and CANTAB) when assessing persons with schizophrenia. 
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the relation between Allen cognitive level test`s outcome and subtests of CANTAB (SWM, SSP & IED( were investigated in 30 patients with chronic schizophrenia (Mean age= 39 , man=80%,woman=20%). Allen cognitive level test was used to measure cognitive level and Spatial Span (SSP) to measure working memory capacity, Spatial Working Memory (SWM) to evaluate working memory and its strategy of usage and Intra/Extra dimensional Set Shift (IED) to assess attentional set shifting. All the data was analyzed by SPSS-16.
Results: No Significant correlation was found between cognition levels of Allen test and SWM subtest (rS= -0/046; P=0/811), SSP (rS=0/009; P= -0/024) and IED (rS= -0/074; P=0/699).
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that although patients with schizophrenia might have problems in cognitive component, they may show less problem in performing goal directed activities. In addition, the approaches of evaluation based on which the tests have been planned should be considered for investigating the correlation between two tests. It seems that the results of a top-down approach may be different from those of a bottom-up approach. 

Keywords

References

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The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume 1, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
July and August 2012
Pages 7-14

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History

  • Receive Date: 25 September 2011
  • Revise Date: 10 January 2012
  • Accept Date: 02 May 2012
  • First Publish Date: 21 June 2012

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