Semantic Memory Impairments in Schizophrenia

This doctoral thesis attempts to clarify and further knowledge of the semantic memory impairments in schizophrenia. Methodology includes a comprehensive meta-analysis of relevant literature and a number of empirical studies enlisting people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Dementia and Acquired Brain Injury as control populations. The thesis argues that the semantic memory and categorisation deficits in schizophrenia are task- specific, once the effects of IQ are controlled for. Impairments are not likely to be due to a loss of semantic knowledge or a dysexecutive syndrome but may be caused by an aberrant assignment of salience to semantic concepts/ associations that are less contextually relevant. The implications in terms of symptoms and phenomenology are discussed.

Autorentext

Dr Olivia Doughty completed her PhD in 2008 at the University of Hertfordshire and was supervised by Dr John Done. Olivia is currently training to be a Clinical Psychologist at University College London, UK and as part of this training is undertaking further research in the field of psychosis.