Evaluation of cognitive functions in schizophrenic patients with the montreal cognitive assessment scale and mini mental state examination

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Cognitive defisit is central feature of the neurodevelopmental disorders. Cognitive impairment is related to social, functional and clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical usability of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a screening instrument for cognitive impairment in schizophrenic patients alone, and in correlation with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). This clinical study included 31 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Patients were selected from Psychiatry Clinic. For the assessment of cognitive impairment we used Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). From the total number of patients (n=31), 6/31 (19.4 %) were males and 25/31 (80.6 %) were females; mean duration of the disorder was 23.5 year (S.D=6.69). Seventeen patients (54.8%) of those who on MMSE scale had a score greater or equal to 24 (normal range) and the MoCA scale had a normal score (>21), while 11 (35.5%) patients reported moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Analysis of the correlation coefficient between the total score of MoCA and MMSE scale indicates a statistically significant positive correlation with Spearman rho=0.81 and p