Impairments of planning in schizophrenia

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify mechanisms of planning impairment in patients with schizophrenia. 44 subjects with paranoid schizophrenia and 45 healthy subjects were examined using two modifications of the Tower of London Test. The results showed that planning impairments in schizophrenia had complex structure and could involve various components of planning. The basic mechanism of planning impairments in schizophrenia is reduction of efforts in organizing activity. Narrowing (loss) of the orientation stage of activity in the presence of regulation reserves (in the form of intact process of plan construction) occurs. The results were compared with knowledge of clinical manifestations of schizophrenia and representations of planning in psychology.