A pilot study to measure cognitive impairment in patients with severe schizophrenia with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

Cognitive impairment has been suggested to be a core feature of a schizophrenia diagnosis. Many comprehensive neuropsychological batteries and experimental procedures have been used to assess cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. A few brief performance-based cognitive assessments have been developed to fulfill the need of a more feasible cognitive assessment for schizophrenia in clinical settings. However, their usability is in question. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a brief cognitive assessment tool, has been used widely in different clinical settings because of its high sensitivity and specificity for detecting cognitive impairments. This study assessed cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia by using the MoCA tool. The results showed that the MoCA was sensitive enough to detect cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia. It also provided normative data for the MoCA in schizophrenia patients. Furthermore, the results revealed that cognitive impairment measured by the MoCA was correlated with their education level, severity of illness, and negative symptoms. Lastly, the MoCA total score could be a significant predictor of patients' length of stay in the facility.