Objective. To study cognitive disorders in patients with schizophrenia at different stages of the disease. Material and methods. Forty-five patients with paranoid schizophrenia with first and recurrent episodes were examined clinically and psychometrically using the PANSS. Neurocognitive functioning was assessed with the «Rey—Osterrieth Complex figure». Results and conclusion. Differences were found not only between patients with chronic and first-episode schizophrenia, but also between first-time hospitalized and re-hospitalized patients within the first-episode group.