A Comparison of Cognitive and Neuropsychological Functioning of Schizophrenics with Their Siblings and Normal Individuals

A variety of research results have reported inconclusive and contradictory results in terms of cognitive and neuropsychological functioning in patients with schizophrenia and their relatives. Therefore، the present research aims at drawing a comparison of cognitive and neuropsychological functioning of schizophrenics with their siblings and normal population. Hence، a sample of 12 individuals was drawn from a larger population of hospitalized patients definitely diagnosed with schizophrenia in hospitals located in Isfahan. The selected subjects were tested with regard to abstract reasoning، memory، problem solving، visuomotor speed and verbal conceptualization and were compared to their normal siblings and 12 staff members working in the non-psychiatric wards of these hospitals. Findings demonstrated that schizophrenics and their healthy siblings maintain a weaker level of performance in some cognitive and neuropsychological functioning as compared to normal population. Moreover، As observed، schizophrenics’ siblings suffer form more slight deficits in their cognitive and neuropsychological functioning.