Comparison of Neurocognitive Impairment in Patients of Schizophrenia with or without a Family History of Schizophrenia Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Schizophrenia symptoms include domains like positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive symptoms. Few studies say schizophrenia with a family history of schizophrenia has greater impairment in cognitive abilities than schizophrenia without a family history of schizophrenia. The study aims to evaluate neurocognitive performance in schizophrenia patients during symptom-free periods with or without a family history of schizophrenia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 99 individuals with schizophrenia with a family history of schizophrenia 40, schizophrenia without a family history of schizophrenia 59. The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), the PGI Battery of Brain Dysfunction (PGIBBD), and the Color Trail Test (CTT) were utilized to assess schizophrenia symptoms, neurocognitive impairment, and cognitive versatility and motor processing speed. Data were collected and then two groups were compared with chi-square test or independent t test. Results: Both PGI BBD and CTT test were compared between the two groups. No significant difference was found in the level of neurocognitive impairment between schizophrenia with or without a family history. Conclusions: Family history did not show any significant difference in the cognitive impairment of schizophrenia patients, highlighting the need for further research in this field.