Cognitive abnormalities and the symptoms of schizophrenia

David R. Hemsley

pp. 221-239

in: Manfred Spitzer, Michael A. Schwartz, Michael A. Schwartz (eds), Phenomenology, language & schizophrenia, Berlin, Springer, 1992

Abstract

There is increasing awareness of the need to construct a model of schizophrenic dysfunction which is able to integrate both its neural and perceptual/cognitive aspects. Although information processing models appear useful as a means of linking biological and social factors relevant to the disorder, Anscombe (1987) has noted that "there remains a gap between the computer terminology in which attentional theories are couched, and the patient's experience of schizophrenia" (p. 291). It is clearly important that disturbances of information processing be shown to be related to more complex forms of psychopathology in schizophrenia, as a means for validating the deficit and demonstrating that it is not trivial.