Background: Cognitive impairment is among the core dimensions in schizophrenia and is a significant predictor of everyday functioning in people with schizophrenia. Given the enormous burden of schizophrenia, the search for its clinically relevant biomarkers is essential. Researchers have been trying to elucidate factors of cognitive impairment as well as personal performance, but the search is still ongoing. The aim of the study was to search for associations between BDNF, CRP, IL-6 and clinical symptoms, cognitive and personal performance in patients with paranoid schizophrenia.
Methods: A total of 86 patients (53.5% women, mean age 31.1 ± 6.5) with paranoid schizophrenia (F20.0; ICD-10) in remission were examined. Clinical and neuropsychological examination included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Personal and Social Performance Scale, Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia and the Brief Assessment of Cognitive Function in Schizophrenia. IL-6, BDNF, CRP levels were determined in the patients’ blood serum.
Results: Cognitive impairment was revealed in 79.1% of patients and was more profound in patients with higher number of hospitalizations (p = 0.006). The average BDNF levels were 13.38 ± 15.84 ng/ml, CRP concentration was 2.09 ± 2.54 mg/l, and IL-6 levels were 12.14 ± 5.88 pg/ml. There were no differences in biomarker levels or BACS results in patients that had different antipsychotic therapy or differed in the presence of anticholinergic therapy. CRP levels were higher in patients with longer disease duration, lower age of onset, more impaired personal social performance and processing speed. IL-6 was higher in individuals with lower working memory scores. PANSS negative subscale score negatively correlated and PSP score positively correlated with most cognitive domains. A linear regression established that the first episode vs. multiple episodes of schizophrenia could statistically significantly predict personal and social performance and cognition, including speech fluency and planning, as well as CRP levels.
Conclusions: This study continues the search for biomarkers of schizophrenia and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia to improve the reliability of diagnosing the disorder and find new treatment approaches. The role of the number of psychoses experienced (first episode vs. multiple episodes of schizophrenia) in cognition, personal and social performance and inflammation is shown.