Browsing by Author "Poznanovic, Sanja Totic (55545225800)"

The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) scale was developed for the assessment of cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to cross-culturally adapt and validate the BACS in to the Serbian language. The study was conducted at the Laza Lazarevic Clinic for Mental Disorders and the Clinic for Psychiatry of the University Clinical Center of Serbia from March 2021 to January 2022. The study enrolled 61 inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 61 healthy controls matched for age and sex. Compared with the healthy control group, the schizophrenia patient group had worse cognitive function in all dimensions measured using BACS (p < 0.001 for all measures). The mean standardized composite BACS score was z = −2.46, and symbol coding (z = −2.54) was the most deficient function. Principal component analysis suggests a two-factor structure, where the first factor consisted of loading the measures of verbal and working memory, attention, speed of information processing, and executive function, while the second factor regarded the loading of motor speed. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient demonstrated an excellent level of internal consistency (0.798). These outcomes suggest that the Serbian BACS neurocognitive battery’s psychometric properties are satisfactory, with good overall discriminant validity and high internal consistency. The Serbian BACS appears to be a quick and reliable neuropsychological instrument for evaluating global cognition in schizophrenia patients in Serbia. © 2023 by the authors.

The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) scale was developed for the assessment of cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to cross-culturally adapt and validate the BACS in to the Serbian language. The study was conducted at the Laza Lazarevic Clinic for Mental Disorders and the Clinic for Psychiatry of the University Clinical Center of Serbia from March 2021 to January 2022. The study enrolled 61 inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 61 healthy controls matched for age and sex. Compared with the healthy control group, the schizophrenia patient group had worse cognitive function in all dimensions measured using BACS (p < 0.001 for all measures). The mean standardized composite BACS score was z = −2.46, and symbol coding (z = −2.54) was the most deficient function. Principal component analysis suggests a two-factor structure, where the first factor consisted of loading the measures of verbal and working memory, attention, speed of information processing, and executive function, while the second factor regarded the loading of motor speed. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient demonstrated an excellent level of internal consistency (0.798). These outcomes suggest that the Serbian BACS neurocognitive battery’s psychometric properties are satisfactory, with good overall discriminant validity and high internal consistency. The Serbian BACS appears to be a quick and reliable neuropsychological instrument for evaluating global cognition in schizophrenia patients in Serbia. © 2023 by the authors.

Background: The variations in proinflamatory cytokine levels have been associated with schizophrenia (SCH), duration of illness, psychopathology and treatment. The aim of the study was to investigate serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-a) in schizophrenic patients during exacerbation and remission, and its association with course of illness and therapy. Subjects and methods: We measured serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-a in 43 schizophrenic patients in exacerbation and remission and compared them to 29 healthy controls, matched by sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and smoking habits. The severity of psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results: There was no difference in levels of IL-6 and TNF-a in exacerbation compared to remission in schizophrenic patients. IL-6 was higher and TNF-a was lower in schizophrenic patients in both exacerbation and remission in comparison with healthy controls. TNF-a in exacerbation was in negative correlation with IL-6 in remission. No statistical significance was found between levels of cytokines and sex, age, BMI, smoking habits, antipsychotic medication, duration of treatment and duration of illness. IL-6 levels were in positive correlation with the age of onset and the duration of untreated psychosis. In schizophrenic patients on adjunctive treatment with mood stabilizers, TNF-a levels increased in remission. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the connection between schizophrenia, cytokines and medication is multifaceted, and not necessarily linear. Adjunct mood stabilizers not only ameliorate psychopathology, but might convey immunomodulatory effects as well. Further longitudinal studies could elucidate potential beneficial effect of combined therapy in treatment of SCH. © Medicinska naklada - Zagreb, Croatia. © Medicinska naklada - Zagreb, Croatia.