Multitasking abilities in persons diagnosed with schizophrenia: a new tool and cognitive model.

Difficulties in everyday life activities are core features of persons diagnosed with schizophrenia, and in particular during multitasking activities (Semkovska et al., 2010). Multitasking refers to activities (e.g. preparing a meal) where the person has to: (a) carry out and alternate between different tasks that vary in terms of priority, difficulty and duration; (b) define the tasks’ targets; (c) and where the person is faced with unexpected problems during the realization of these tasks (Burgess, 2000). However, the cognitive underpinnings of multitasking abilities have never been adequately explored in schizophrenia. Further, only two cognitive models exist in the literature, which are based on student (Logie et al., 2011) and neurological (Burgess et al., 2000) samples. Both of these models suggest three primary constructs: Memory, Planning and Intent. There are, however, several limitations related to the way multitasking abilities were evaluated in these studies. We thus developed a computerized real-life activity task - the Computerized Meeting Preparation Task (CPMT), which was specifically designed to take into account the multitasking nature of certain everyday life activities. Using this task, and based on previous studies (Burgess et al., 2000; Logie et al., 2011), the aim of the present study was to evaluate multitasking abilities in schizophrenia and to do so in a new cognitive model of multitasking that takes into account certain cognitive functions that are not integrated in existing models.

Methods: Fifty-seven individuals with schizophrenia and 41 matched healthy controls completed the CMPT. Participants were also evaluated with a battery of cognitive tests.

Results: The results suggest that the CMPT possesses good sensitivity and confirmed the three underlying constructs of multitasking (Memory, Planning and Intent), which were found to be underpinned by several cognitive functions and multitasking aspects.

Conclusion: Taken together, this new cognitive model and the CMPT could be a good basis for cognitive interventions of multitasking abilities in schizophrenia.

Burgess, P.W., 2000. Strategy application disorder: the role of the frontal lobes in human multitasking. Psychol Res 63, 279-288.
Logie, R., et al., 2011. Multitasking: multiple, domain-specific cognitive functions in a virtual environment. Mem Cogn 39, 1561-1574.
Semkovska, M. et al., 2004. Assessment of executive dysfunction during activities of daily living in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 69, 289-300.