Schizophrenia Support Group

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by impairments in the perception of reality and by significant social dysfunction. Untreated schizophrenia is typically characterized by demonstrating disorganized thinking and experiencing delusions or auditory hallucinations.

913 Members
3,433 Posts
0 Online
Mental Health
/ Schizophrenia Support Group

Cognitive impairment

Bouncy
Bouncy
I know that paranoid schizophrenics tend not go get cognitive impairment, but are there any schizophrenics or people with schizoaffective disorder that do get cognitive impairment?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Just when I'm episodic and in recovery, once medication has kicked in and done a but of writing and maths it soon returns
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have cognitive impairment from the ECT I had when I was 18. My short term memory is made worse by the sz.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Depends on your definition of cognitive impairment. Schooling suffered due to SZA symptoms due to lack of concentration, mostly from the depression.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thinking on it more I know some patients (more men, myself included) tend to complain on physical awkwardness things like balance etc. Wonder also if the meds have something to do with it. We are on some very powerful drugs and some peoples levels are extremely high and numerous. Would think as new relays in the brain are being build would be some hiccups as we try to keep pace of what we once where. Would be just a matter of giving it time to learn the new you on the meds as a therapist put it to me once. It Is where a good therapist comes in to help and push you outside your comfit zone to gain more confidence on the meds.
worldofblah4
worldofblah4
I have schizoaffective and have cognitive impairment from the illness, the meds and the ECT. But still I am managing to go for my master's in social work.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Also, I believe that a symptom of schizophrenia is often mistaken for cognitive impairment. I often wondered if my husband had a cognitive impairment, but I'm thinking maybe not. In addition, he is on a lot of medication, and any one of those could cause either what mimics a cognitive impairment or even cause it. So unfortunate, many drugs create more difficulties than they help.

Of course he has never had a seizure, ECT, or many things others have experienced that might contribute to cognitive problems, so I don't know about what those do. Obviously those of you who have experienced them would know better than me.