Wisconsin Card Sorting Dest deficits in chronic paranoid schizophrenia: Evidence for a relatively discrete subgroup? Journal Article


Authors: Butler, R. W.; Jenkins, M. A.; Sprock, J.; Braff, D. L.
Article Title: Wisconsin Card Sorting Dest deficits in chronic paranoid schizophrenia: Evidence for a relatively discrete subgroup?
Abstract: Some, although not all, researchers have reported dramatically increased numbers of perseverative responses on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in schizophrenic patients compared to normal comparison subjects. The current study was designed to further explore the nature of possible WCST deficits in a group of paranoid schizophrenic patients compared to normal and psychiatric comparison subjects. In the current study, schizophrenic patients had significantly greater numbers of perseverative responses on the WCST than the comparison groups. The sample of patients with schizophrenia appeared to be characterized by a non-Gaussian distribution of perseverative responses on the WCST. WCST-impaired and WCST-nonimpaired schizophrenic subgroups were compared on cognitive and symptom measures, and increased perseverative responding was associated with negative symptoms, slowed reaction time, and more hospitalizations. While additional research is necessary to further investigate hypotheses of frontal versus generalized brain dysfunction in schizophrenic patients. WCST impairment seems to be present in a clinically meaningful subgroup of paranoid schizophrenic patients. © 1992.
Keywords: adult; clinical article; controlled study; chronic disease; hospitalization; psychiatric status rating scales; neuropsychological tests; problem solving; attention; frontal lobe; schizophrenia; reaction time; arousal; paranoid schizophrenia; schizophrenia, paranoid; perseveration; paranoia; human; male; female; priority journal; article; brain dysfunction; support, u.s. gov't, p.h.s.; wisconsin card sorting test; (schizophrenia); mental test
Journal Title: Schizophrenia Research
Volume: 7
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0920-9964
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 1992-07-01
Start Page: 169
End Page: 176
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/0920-9964(92)90047-9
PUBMED: 1515378
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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  1. Robert W. Butler
    11 Butler