Disorders of working memory in schizophrenia

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the performance of working memory of schizophrenics, the evaluation of their working memory performance will allow and facilitate the development of training and treating programs for cognitive functions, thus allowing better Rehabilitation for them. Therefore, we used the Cognitive Evaluation Battery BEC 96 of "Jean Louis Signoret" to evaluate memory disorders and associated cognitive disorders, which adapted to the Algerian environment by professor "Saida Brahimi". We applied it individually on four cases of schizophrenia in EPHS "Shaaban Moussa" in Wad Athmania, Mila. The grades analysis showed that there are moderate to apparent difficulties in the items of the space structure and orientation, and this means that there is a medium disturbance in the visuo-spatial calpin. Also, a light difficulty in the verbal fluidity and medium in the naming items, indicating the presence of a light disturbance in functions of the phonological loop. While the grades of the items remembering, learning, mental operation and problem solving, they show apparent disorders, especially the learning and problem-solving items, which clarify a serious and severe disturbance in the performance of the central administrator at cases of schizophrenia of the study. So, the results show that there is a deficit in working memory showing the presence of a light disorder in the phonological loop, a medium disorder degree in the visuo-spatial Calpine and a severe disorder in the central administrator which correspond to the results of many previous studies that examined the working memory variable in schizophrenia.