Cognitive impairments are a fundamental characteristic of schizophrenia which can limit patients' function in daily lives. Cognitive impairments are among the most important determinant of functional disability of schizophrenia. Typical antipsychotics seem to have minimal effect on the enhancement of cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia. It seems that atypical antipsychotics have benefit of improving the cognitive function to a greater degree than typical antipsychotics. In 3 studies where patients were switched to ziprasidone because of suboptimal efficacy or adverse effects, patients demonstrated significant improvements of multiple cognitive domains. Path analysis of switch study showed that improvement of cognitive function and affective symptom were associated improvement of social function. In comparison of cognitive effects of ziprasidone versus olanzapine, both demonstrated substantial and comparable cognitive enhancing effects relative to previous treatment.ope
