Impairment of Semantic Categorization Processes among Thought-Disordered Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract

Objective: To explore semantic categorization strategies in patients with schizophrenia. Method: A short-term memory-recognition task that reveals the effects associated with categorization was created and applied to 2 groups of patients with schizophrenia and depression. Results: Only the schizophrenic subgroup with formal thought disorder (measured using Andreasen's Thought, Language, and Communication [TLC] scale) exhibited a deficiency in semantic categorization strategies during the task. Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis of the impairment of the processes involved in the processing of contextual information inpatients with schizophrenia who suffer from formal thought disorder.