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Neuropsychological deficits in schizophrenics. Relationship to age, chronicity, and dementia
Heaton R, Paulsen JS, McAdams LA, Kuck J, Zisook S, Braff D, Harris J, Jeste DV.. Archives of general psychiatry, 1994-06-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background We sought to determine whether neuropsychological impairment in schizophrenia is related to current age, age at onset, or duration of illness, and whether the pattern of such impairment can be distinguished from that caused by progressive dementias of Alzheimer's type. We administered a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery to a normal control group (n = 38), a group of ambulatory patients with Alzheimer's disease (n = 42), and three ambulatory schizophrenic groups: early onset-young (n = 85), early onset-old (n = 35), and late onset (n = 22). Tests were grouped and analyzed according to eight major ability areas, and published procedures were used to remove the expected effects of normal aging.
Key findings
- We administered a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery to a normal control group (n = 38), a group of ambulatory patients with Alzheimer's disease (n = 42), and three ambulatory schizophrenic groups: early onset-young (n = 85), early onset-old (n = 35), and late onset (n = 22).
- Tests were grouped and analyzed according to eight major ability areas, and published procedures were used to remove the expected effects of normal aging.
- Results The three schizophrenic groups were found to be neuropsychologically similar to one another and different from normal controls and patients with Alzheimer's disease.
- There were no significant differences among the schizophrenic groups in level or pattern of neuropsychological functioning.
Why it matters
This study compared neuropsychological test performance in schizophrenia groups, a normal control group and a group with Alzheimer's disease. It concerns schizophrenia and does not show any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Participants38
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Archives of general psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Archives of General Psychiatry: journal h-index 543 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1994 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 38 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 381 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.2 citations a year over 34 year(s) since 1994 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 19.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Robert K. Heaton: h-index 94 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California San Diego: institution h-index 1,852 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 8192549) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Heaton, R., Paulsen, J. S., McAdams, L. A., Kuck, J., Zisook, S., Braff, D., et al. (1994). Neuropsychological deficits in schizophrenics. Relationship to age, chronicity, and dementia. Archives of general psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950060033003
Vancouver
Heaton R, Paulsen JS, McAdams LA, Kuck J, Zisook S, Braff D, et al. Neuropsychological deficits in schizophrenics. Relationship to age, chronicity, and dementia. Archives of general psychiatry. 1994. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950060033003. PMID: 8192549.
BibTeX
@article{heaton1994-8192549,
author = {Heaton, R. and Paulsen, J. S. and McAdams, L. A. and Kuck, J. and Zisook, S. and Braff, D. and Harris, J. and Jeste, D. V.},
title = {{Neuropsychological deficits in schizophrenics. Relationship to age, chronicity, and dementia}},
journal = {Archives of general psychiatry},
year = {1994},
doi = {10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950060033003},
pmid = {8192549},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950060033003}
}
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