Bliksted V, Samuelsen E, Sandberg K, Bibby BM, Overgaard MS. Discriminating between first- and second-order cognition in first-episode paranoid schizophrenia.
Cogn Neuropsychiatry 2017;
22:95-107. [PMID:
28005458 DOI:
10.1080/13546805.2016.1268954]
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION
An impairment of visually perceiving backward masked stimuli is commonly observed in patients with schizophrenia, yet it is unclear whether this impairment is the result of a deficiency in first or higher order processing and for which subtypes of schizophrenia it is present.
METHODS
Here, we compare identification (first order) and metacognitive (higher order) performance in a visual masking paradigm between a highly homogenous group of young first-episode patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia (N = 11) to that of carefully matched healthy controls (N = 13).
RESULTS
We find no difference across groups in first-order performance, but find a difference in metacognitive performance, particularly for stimuli with relatively high visibility.
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the masking deficit is present in first-episode patients with paranoid schizophrenia, but that it is primarily an impairment of metacognition.
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