Executive dysfunctions in patients with substance induced psychosis and schizofrenia

Aim: In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that different areas of the executive functions deteriorate in patients with schizophrenia (SCH), and substance-induced psychosis (SIP) psychosis due to substance abuse particularly. In schizophrenia we suggest that executive function disorder is primarily caused by the frontal cortex, whereas high cognitive problems in substance-induced psychosis develop secondary to the disorder in the subcortical regions. Material and Method: In this study, the files of 30 male inpatients diagnosis with SIP and 30 male inpatients diagnosed with SCH according to DSM-5 criteria were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were selected by matching their age and educational status, and the routinely performed neuropsychological tests especially related with executive functions. Stroop tests, WMS-R (Wechsler Memory Scale Revised), Digit Span Test, WMS 3 (Wechsler Memory Scale), Mental Control tests were applied to patients with substance-induced psychosis and schizophrenia patients. The results were compared. Result: Stroop 2 values were found to be higher in SCH group than SIP group. Stroop Spontaneous Correction and Stroop Error numbers were higher in SIP group than SCH group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the other tests. Conclusion: This result indicates that a higher level of deterioration in the SCH group compared to the SIP group in the process of changing the perception target. In the parallel processing of attention-directed stimuli and non-attention stimuli, a higher level of deterioration was observed in the SIP group compared to the SCH group.