Prospective memory in schizophrenia and schizotypy

Abstract

Introduction. Most evidence suggests that schizophrenia is associated with pervasive prospective memory (PM) impairment that does not vary as a function of task demands. However, a central tenet of the Multiprocess Framework is that PM involves both automatic and strategic processes, and that their relative prominence varies as a function of PM task characteristics, such as target–cue saliency. Methods. Participants with schizophrenia (n=30), matched controls (n=29), low schizotypes (n=35), and high schizotypes (n=36) were administered a PM measure in which saliency was manipulated. To further clarify the relationship between PM and schizotypy, high and low schizotypies were additionally assessed on Virtual Week, a laboratory measure which has documented sensitivity to schizophrenia-related impairment. Results Relative to controls, participants with schizophrenia exhibited PM difficulties, but the magnitude of this deficit did not vary as a function of target–cue saliency. High and low schizotypes did not differ on any PM test parameter. Conclusions These data are consistent with other evidence showing that schizophrenia is characterised by generalised PM impairment. However, the absence of any schizotypy effects on PM does not support the recent suggestion that PM may represent an endophenotype for schizophrenia.