Skip to main content

The Impact of Medication Anticholinergic Burden on Cognitive Performance in People With Schizophrenia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ang, MS; Abdul Rashid, NA; Lam, M; Rapisarda, A; Kraus, M; Keefe, RSE; Lee, J
Published in: J Clin Psychopharmacol
December 2017

BACKGROUND: Cognitive deficits are prevalent in people with schizophrenia and associated with functional impairments. In addition to antipsychotics, pharmacotherapy in schizophrenia often includes other psychotropics, and some of these agents possess anticholinergic properties, which may impair cognition. The objective of this study was to explore the association between medication anticholinergic burden and cognition in schizophrenia. METHODS: Seven hundred five individuals with schizophrenia completed a neuropsychological battery comprising Judgment of Line Orientation Test, Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence Matrix Reasoning, Continuous Performance Test-Identical Pairs Version, and the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. Cognitive g and 3 cognitive factor scores that include executive function, memory/fluency, and speed of processing/vigilance, which were derived from a previously published analysis, were entered as cognitive variables. Anticholinergic burden was computed using 2 anticholinergic scales: Anticholinergic Burden Scale and Anticholinergic Drug Scale. Duration and severity of illness, antipsychotic dose, smoking status, age, and sex were included as covariates. RESULTS: Anticholinergic burden was associated with poorer cognitive performance in cognitive g, all 3 cognitive domains and most cognitive tasks in multivariate analyses. The associations were statistically significant, but the effect sizes were small (for Anticholinergic Burden Scale, Cohen f = 0.008; for Anticholinergic Drug Scale, Cohen f = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Although our results showed a statistically significant association between medications with anticholinergic properties and cognition in people with schizophrenia, the impact is of doubtful or minimal clinical significance.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

J Clin Psychopharmacol

DOI

EISSN

1533-712X

Publication Date

December 2017

Volume

37

Issue

6

Start / End Page

651 / 656

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Schizophrenia
  • Psychiatry
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Cognitive Dysfunction
  • Cholinergic Antagonists
  • Adult
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Ang, M. S., Abdul Rashid, N. A., Lam, M., Rapisarda, A., Kraus, M., Keefe, R. S. E., & Lee, J. (2017). The Impact of Medication Anticholinergic Burden on Cognitive Performance in People With Schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol, 37(6), 651–656. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0000000000000790
Ang, Mei San, Nur Amirah Abdul Rashid, Max Lam, Attilio Rapisarda, Michael Kraus, Richard S. E. Keefe, and Jimmy Lee. “The Impact of Medication Anticholinergic Burden on Cognitive Performance in People With Schizophrenia.J Clin Psychopharmacol 37, no. 6 (December 2017): 651–56. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0000000000000790.
Ang MS, Abdul Rashid NA, Lam M, Rapisarda A, Kraus M, Keefe RSE, et al. The Impact of Medication Anticholinergic Burden on Cognitive Performance in People With Schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2017 Dec;37(6):651–6.
Ang, Mei San, et al. “The Impact of Medication Anticholinergic Burden on Cognitive Performance in People With Schizophrenia.J Clin Psychopharmacol, vol. 37, no. 6, Dec. 2017, pp. 651–56. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/JCP.0000000000000790.
Ang MS, Abdul Rashid NA, Lam M, Rapisarda A, Kraus M, Keefe RSE, Lee J. The Impact of Medication Anticholinergic Burden on Cognitive Performance in People With Schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2017 Dec;37(6):651–656.

Published In

J Clin Psychopharmacol

DOI

EISSN

1533-712X

Publication Date

December 2017

Volume

37

Issue

6

Start / End Page

651 / 656

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Schizophrenia
  • Psychiatry
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Cognitive Dysfunction
  • Cholinergic Antagonists
  • Adult