Zanelli J, et al. - Among patients from a population-based case-control study with first-episode psychosis and prospective follow-up for 10 years, researchers investigated if cognitive decline was experienced by schizophrenia patients following the first episode and if this decline was generalized or confined to individual neuropsychological functions. They also determined if the decline was specific to schizophrenia. Following disease onset, cognitive decline was experienced by patients with schizophrenia and other psychoses, but the extent of decline differed across cognitive functions. Declines in IQ and in measures of verbal knowledge and of memory were seen in the schizophrenia group, but not processing speed or executive functions. Patients with other psychoses also suffered a decline in measures of memory and it was not specific to schizophrenia. The decline was not present among healthy subjects with low IQ. This indicates that a decline is specific to psychosis. The illness and/or psychosocial factors result in different mechanisms that could underlie impairments across various cognitive functions.