Would Be Safe To Say That Schizophrenics Have No Chance Succeeding In Careers That Require High Intellectual Capabilities. Is That Correct?

Posted on Wed, 2 Sep 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 2 Sep 2020 Answered on

Wed, 9 Jul 2025 Last reviewed on

Question : Psychiatric researches show that cognitive impairment from schizophrenia is profound (two z-scores), begins even before symptoms arises and persists even after full recovery. What about very long term prognosis of cognitive impairment? Do schizophrenics have bad memory and slow processing speed 5 years, 10 years, 20 years after full recovery? If so, it would be safe to say that schizophrenics have no chance succeeding in careers that require high intellectual capabilities. Is that correct?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Not true for all individuals

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

It is true that research have shown bad prognosis for those with cognitive issues and it can be stated that cognitive impairment is one of the most sensitive marker for future improvement/deterioration. Having said this I like to share with you presence of cognitive impairment does not mean that person with schizophrenia should avoid high intellectual work.

Practically speaking I know atleast 15-20 individuals with schizophrenia and working as medical specialists/doctors. Similarly I have three high performing advocates who are getting treated for schizophrenia since young age.

I also like to add that cognitive stimulation/ engagement with cognitive activities helps the person with schizophrenia to reduce the disease progression. It is also important to remain adherent with medication as discontinuation of medication is common cause for relapse in addition to substance abuse.

I hope this helps you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (0 minute later)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (15 hours later)

Thank you. I didn't know a lot of recovered schizophrenics may be successful. I'd like to pinpoint if the individuals that you mentioned a) had only minor cognitive impairment to begin with b) suffered cognitive impairment but cognition improved greatly with the treatment or c) had sigificant cognitive impairment and had minor improvement but became a medical specialists despite bad cognition. I am asking this because it's been years since the treatment but my cognition is so slow and I am doing bad in school. Would cognitive remediation or even solving mensa puzzles/playing memory games help?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (31 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.

Although I do not have exact details about each of the mentioned individual but I like to inform you that there is right mix of individuals who progress to higher level of performance.

I also like to make it clear that I know medical specialists who are known case of schizophrenia and had great problems in cognition to start with but with proper treatment of schizophrenia many of them had good achievement in couple of years. It is true that there is no specific treatment for cognitive deficit but few newer medications such as lurasidone, aripiprazole helps in improvement of cognition. Regarding therapy my best experience lies with cognitive remediation.

Although there is lot of data available in this regard but my person experience with various patients indicates that functioning of individual is more important. It is very important to regain functioning as this also helps in recovery as well as cognitive correction.

I hope this helps you further.
Thanks again.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar