Objective. To study cognitive disorders in patients with schizophrenia at different stages of the disease. Material and methods. Forty-five patients with paranoid schizophrenia with first and recurrent episodes were examined clinically and psychometrically using the PANSS. Neurocognitive functioning was assessed with the «Rey-Osterrieth Complex figure». Results and conclusion. Differences were found not only between patients with chronic and first-episode schizophrenia, but also between first-time hospitalized and re-hospitalized patients within the first-episode group.