Neurobehavioral heterogeneity in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a neurobehavioral disorder with heterogeneous symptomatology. Studies of cognitive function in schizophrenia have also demonstrated heterogeneous patterns and levels of function among patients. In this paper, we review attempts to arrive at meaningful subtypes of cognitive function in schizophrenia through the use of cluster analysis. The subtypes obtained were related to variables extrinsic and intrinsic to schizophrenia itself. It was noted that while classification of subjects was associated to some extent with extrinsic factors, such as age, education, and neurological comorbidity, a portion of the heterogeneity could still be associated with intrinsic factors. It was suggested that these factors might be consistent with currently proposed neurobiological subtypes of schizophrenia.