Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between prospective memory (PM), retrospective memory (RM) and social function in old patients with schizophrenia. Methods 54 old patients with schizophrenia and 54 healthy controls were evaluated with logical memory (LM)IQ, LMIIQ of Wechsler Memory Scale-Fourth Edition (WMS-IV), Chinese Cambridge Prospective Memory Test (C-CAMPROMPT), University of California at San Diego (UCSD) Performance- based Skills Assessment- brief (UPSA- B), and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV). Results The scores of LMIQ, LMIIQ, event-based prospective memory (EBPM), time-based prospective memory (TBPM), IQ, and UPSA-B were poorer in the patients than in the controls (P<0.001). The score of UPSA-B was positively correlated with LMIQ (r=0.524, P<0.001), LMIIQ (r=0.427, P<0.001), EBPM (r=0.437, P<0.001), TBPM (r=0.479, P<0.001) and IQ (r=0.709, P<0.001). Linear regression analysis indicated that TBPM (β=0.811, P=0.007), IQ (β=0.610, P<0.001) were contributing factors for the score of UPSA-B. Conclusion Schizophrenics may complicate the impairment of PM and RM, and the former may be independent fluence to their social function.

Key words: schizophrenia, old, prospective memory, retrospective memory, social function