2025-05-14 国立精神・神経医療研究センター
<関連情報>
- https://www.ncnp.go.jp/topics/detail.php?@uid=VERIFYL5S1GjdwHM
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215001316300130
統合失調症患者における意味記憶の混乱と社会的機能の関連性 Semantic memory disorganization linked to social functioning in patients with schizophrenia
Ayumu Wada,Chika Sumiyoshi,Naoki Yoshimura,Ryota Hashimoto,Junya Matsumoto,Andrew Stickley,Yuji Yamada,Akiko Kikuchi,Ryotaro Kubota,Makoto Matsui,Kana Nakachi,Chinatsu Fujimaki,Leona Adachi,Risa Yamada & Tomiki Sumiyoshi
Schizophrenia Published:15 April 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-025-00615-z
Abstract
Schizophrenia is characterized by language-related symptoms stemming from semantic memory disorganization, which often leads to poor social functioning. Although numerous studies have attempted to elucidate the association between these symptoms and social functioning, it remains unclear how individual differences in the degree of semantic memory disorganization are linked to variations in social functioning scores. Here, we investigated this association by utilizing advanced automated scoring techniques to quantify individual-specific semantic memory parameters from the category fluency test (CFT). Specifically, the similarity between consecutive responses from the CFT was calculated using distributional representations, forming the basis for the semantic memory organization parameters. Results showed that schizophrenia patients (n = 139) exhibited semantic memory disorganization compared to healthy controls (n = 98). Generalized linear models analyzing social functioning within the schizophrenia group, as measured by the Specific Levels of Functioning Scale, revealed that higher semantic memory parameters were associated with better social functioning scores (β = 0.07, z = 4.90, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that social functioning is related to semantic memory organization, thus providing a framework for the exploration of social functioning by assessing semantic memory organization in patients with schizophrenia.
