學院

醫學院

系所

職能治療學系

題名

Dual-task performance involving hand dexterity and cognitive tasks and daily functioning in people with schizophrenia: A pilot study

作者

Lin, K-C., Wu, Y-F., Chen, I-C., Tsai, P-L., Wu, C-Y.*, & Chen, C-L.

期刊名稱

American Journal of Occupational Therapy

發表日期

2015

著作性質

原著

語文

英文

關鍵字

dual-task interference, schizophrenia, cognition, dexterity, daily function

摘要

OBJECTIVE. This study investigated the effects of a concurrent cognitive task on hand dexterity and examined the relationship between daily functions and discrepancy in dexterity under dual-task versus single-task conditions in patients with schizophrenia.

METHOD. The study recruited 16 patients with schizophrenia and 16 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. All participants were asked to perform the Purdue Pegboard Test and the Serial Subtraction Seven Test under single- and dual-task conditions. They also completed two daily functional evaluations, the Activities of Daily Living Rating Scale III and the University of California San Diego Performance-based Skills Assessment-Brief.

RESULTS. Relative to the single-task condition, the dexterity of all participants declined in the dual-task condition. The effect of dual-task interference on hand dexterity was greater in the schizophrenic group than in the control group (p < .03, d > .7 for all). There were negative correlations between discrepancy in dexterity under dual-task versus single-task conditions and daily function in the schizophrenic group (rs = –0.3 to –0.5, ps = .04-.26).

CONCLUSION. This is the first study to examine the effect of a dual task with an add-on cognitive task on hand dexterity in patients with schizophrenia. A dual task could be an indicator of daily function in patients with schizophrenia. The findings of the study might be clinically relevant for consideration of using a dual task as a therapeutic activity in patients with schizophrenia.