Battery of scales for comprehensive assessment of social cognition, neurocognition and motivation in patients with schizophrenia

IntroductionThere has been a special interest in roles of neurocognition, social cognition and motivation impairments in patients with schizophrenia and possible approaches to remediating these deficits. Clinical practice lacks a comprehensive tool to measure those deficits.ObjectiveTo build a comprehensive assessment battery to measure neurocognitive, social cognitive and motivational deficits in order to form targets for remediation programs and assess their efficiency.AimsTranslation and adaptation for Russian speaking subjects (if needed) of identified assessments upon authors’ agreement.MethodsBy consensus decision of 5 professionals in the field of clinical psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience a number of assessments were selected with the following criteria: 1. Relevance to domain assessed, 2. Appropriateness for Russian social context, 3. Reference rates in scientific papers, 4. Time consumed by each assessment.ResultsSix measures reflecting main domains (neurocognition, Theory of Mind, attributional style, social perception, emotion processing, motivation) were selected: 1. BACS (Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia) (R.S. Keefe et al., 2008), 2. Hinting Task (R. Corcoran 1995), 3. AIHQ (Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire) (D.R. Combs et al., 2007), 4. RAD–15 (Relationships Across Domains) (M. Sergi et al., 2004), 5. Ekman–60 (P. Ekman et al., 1976), 6. AES (Apathy Evaluation Scale) (R.S. Marin et al., 1991).ConclusionsThe battery built encompasses all targeted domains of neurocognition, social cognition and motivation. Time consumed by the battery estimates 130 ± 15 minutes, which is appropriate for clinical practice in a rehabilitation centre. Future research will focus on patients profiling and shaping of rehabilitation programs accordingly.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Emotion Dysregulation: A Review of the Concept and Implications for Clinical Practice

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.1956 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S528-S529

Author(s):

A. D’Agostino ◽

S. Covanti ◽

M. Rossi Monti ◽

V. Starcevic

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Emotion Dysregulation ◽

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Emotional Awareness ◽

Future Research ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Expression Of Emotions ◽

Psychology Literature ◽

Definition Of

IntroductionOver the past decade, emotion dysregulation has become a very popular term in the psychiatric and clinical psychology literature and it has been described as a key component in a range of mental disorders. For this reason, it has been recently called the “hallmark of psychopathology” (Beauchaine et al., 2007). However, many issues make this concept controversial.ObjectivesTo explore emotion dysregulation, focusing on problems related to its definition, meanings and role in many psychiatric disorders.AimsTo clarify the psychopathological core of emotion dysregulation and to discuss potential implications for clinical practice.MethodsA literature review was carried out by examining articles published in English between January 2003 and June 2015. A search of the databases PubMed, PsycINFO, Science Direct, Medline, EMBASE and Google Scholar was performed to identify the relevant papers.ResultsAlthough, there is no agreement about the definition of emotion dysregulation, the following five overlapping, not mutually exclusive dimensions were identified: decreased emotional awareness, inadequate emotional reactivity, intense experience and expression of emotions, emotional rigidity and cognitive reappraisal difficulty. These dimensions characterise a number of psychiatric disorders in different proportions, with borderline personality disorder and eating disorders seemingly more affected than other conditions.ConclusionsThis review highlights a discrepancy between the widespread clinical use of emotion dysregulation and inadequate conceptual status of this construct. Better understanding of the various dimensions of emotion dysregulation has implications for treatment. Future research needs to address emotion dysregulation in all its multifaceted complexity.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Is Emotional Intelligence Impaired in Unaffected Siblings of Patients with Schizophrenia?

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s135561771700042x ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (7) ◽

pp. 577-583 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Beatrice Frajo-Apor ◽

Georg Kemmler ◽

Silvia Pardeller ◽

Markus Huber ◽

Christian Macina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotional Intelligence ◽

Social Cognition ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Mental Illnesses ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Brief Assessment ◽

Performance Patterns ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Social Cognitive Deficits ◽

And Control

AbstractObjectives:Social cognitive deficits have been discussed to be endophenotypes for schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses. The current study aimed to assess emotional intelligence (EI) in unaffected siblings of schizophrenia patients to investigate its potential role as endophenotype for schizophrenia.Methods:EI was measured in 56 schizophrenia patients, 57 unaffected siblings, and 127 healthy control subjects by using the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). In addition, non-social cognition was assessed with the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Linear mixed models with compound symmetric correlation structure were used for of the three groups with respect to EI and non-social cognition.Results:Schizophrenia patients showed significantly lower overall EI and performed significantly worse in three out of four MSCEIT branches compared to unaffected siblings and control subjects, whereas the two latter groups had comparable EI levels. Similar performance patterns (patients<unaffected siblings=control subjects) were found with respect to non-social cognition. Solely in the “Tower of London” test, siblings achieved significantly lower task scores compared to control subjects.Conclusions:Based on our results, EI as measured with the MSCEIT does not seem to represent a marker of risk for schizophrenia. Further investigations should concentrate on other EI measures to reassess this finding. (JINS, 2017,23, 577–583)

Download Full-text

Percezione sociale e paranoia: una rassegna

RIVISTA SPERIMENTALE DI FRENIATRIA ◽

10.3280/rsf2009-003005 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 123-141

Author(s):

Dennis R. Combs ◽

Dustin J: Chapman ◽

Casey Reneau

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Theory Of Mind ◽

Attributional Style ◽

Social Perception ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Persecutory Delusions ◽

Future Studies ◽

Area Of Interest ◽

Current State ◽

Interest In Research

- There has been an increased interest in research on paranoia and persecutory delusions. This is partly based on the idea that paranoia exists on a continuum ranging from sub-clinical to clinical levels. One area of interest is in social cognition as it may provide methods to understand how persons with paranoia perceive, interpret, and understand their social world. Previous research has showed that social cognition directly influences or mediates social functioning. Paranoia can be ideally approached from a social cognitive perspective, which makes understanding these processes even more important. For this review, we will focus on the current state of knowledge for paranoia as it pertains to the three primary domains of social cognition: 1) emotion/social perception, 2) theory of mind, and 3) attributional style. Deficits in emotion/social perception appear to be found across the paranoia continuum. In contrast, deficits in theory of mind and attributional style are typically found in persons with clinical levels of paranoia. Future studies should focus on understanding the processes that might underlie the deficits.

Download Full-text

Are There Gender Differences in Social Cognition in First-Episode Psychosis?

Women ◽

10.3390/women1040018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 204-211

Author(s):

Marina Verdaguer-Rodríguez ◽

Raquel López-Carrilero ◽

Marta Ferrer-Quintero ◽

Helena García-Mieres ◽

Luciana Díaz-Cutraro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Social Cognition ◽

Attributional Style ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

Test Theory ◽

First Episode ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Episode Psychosis ◽

The Social

The aim of this study was to explore gender differences in social cognition in a sample of first-episode psychosis (FEP). An observational descriptive study was performed with 191 individuals with FEP. Emotion perception was assessed using the Faces Test, theory of mind was assessed using the Hinting Task, and attributional style was assessed using the Internal, Personal and Situational Attributions Questionnaire. No gender differences were found in any of the social cognitive domains. Our results suggest that men and women with FEP achieve similar performances in social cognition. Therefore, targeting specific needs in social cognition regarding gender may not be required in early interventions for psychosis.

Download Full-text

The EVACO Project: A new battery for assessing social cognition disorders and related psychiatric disability in schizophrenia

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.022 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S78-S78 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P. Roux ◽

M. Urbach ◽

S. Fonteneau ◽

B. Aouizerate ◽

F. Berna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Cognitive Disorders ◽

Psychometric Evaluation ◽

Functional Expression ◽

Cognitive Neuropsychology ◽

Alternative Approach ◽

Competing Interest

The relation of social cognitive disorders and schizophrenic symptoms are well-established. Yet, assessment methods have not reached a consensus. In addition, causal paths between neurocognition, social cognition, symptoms and functional expression are not clearly understood. During the past few years, some authoritative accounts proposed specialized batteries of tests and emphasized theory of mind, emotion recognition, and interpretation bias constructs:– NIMH's “Social cognition psychometric evaluation” battery (Pinkham AE, Penn DL, Green MF, Harvey PD. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2015);– “Social cognition and functioning in schizophrenia” (Green MF, Lee J, Ochsner KN. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2013).Interestingly, these accounts stemming either from expert consensus and psychometric considerations or from neuroscience knowledge recognized some difficulties in providing a fully usable set of instruments. The project described here (EVACO protocol, funded by the Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique national) follows an alternative approach and aims at providing a psychometrically validated battery. Based on a cognitive neuropsychology view on schizophrenic functional disability, several tests were gathered and are assessed in a 12-months multi-center follow-up of 160 individuals with schizophrenia. The FondaMental foundation network of Expert Centers is involved in recruiting patients from eight centers (Clermont-Ferrand, Colombes, Créteil, Grenoble, Marseille, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Versailles). To-date, the first evaluation of the population has been achieved. Experience reports and inclusions follow-up demonstrate the good acceptability of this battery both on the patients and the evaluator's side. We emphasize the usefulness of this project to meet the clinicians’ needs of validated social cognition tools, by describing different scenarios of use.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Neurocognitive and Social Cognitive Approaches for Improving Functional Outcome in Early Psychosis: Theoretical Considerations and Current State of Evidence

Schizophrenia Research and Treatment ◽

10.1155/2012/815315 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Cali F. Bartholomeusz ◽

Kelly Allott

Keyword(s):

Functional Outcome ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Large Body ◽

Chronic Schizophrenia ◽

Current Approach ◽

Early Psychosis ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Future Research ◽

Rehabilitation Programs ◽

Current State

Improving functional outcome, in addition to alleviating psychotic symptoms, is now a major treatment objective in schizophrenia research. Given the large body of evidence suggesting pharmacological treatments generally have minimal effects on indices of functioning, research has turned to psychosocial rehabilitation programs. Among these, neurocognitive and social cognitive interventions are at the forefront of this field and are argued to target core deficits inherent to the schizophrenia illness. However, to date, research trials have primarily focused on chronic schizophrenia populations, neglecting the early psychosis groups who are often as severely impaired in social and occupational functioning. This theoretical paper will outline the rationale for investigating adjunctive cognitive-based interventions in the early phases of psychotic illness, critically examine the current approach strategies used in these interventions, and assess the evidence supporting certain training programs for improving functional outcome in early psychosis. Potential pathways for future research will be discussed.

Download Full-text

Adolescent Social Cognitive Development

10.31234/osf.io/qd2vw ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Victoria Guazzelli Williamson

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Developmental Trajectories ◽

Mental States ◽

Future Research ◽

Cultural Considerations ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Social Cognitive Processes

During adolescence, our bodies, brains, and behaviors undergo marked developmental changes. Adolescents often become increasingly aware of their social worlds and use this stage of development to develop skills to help them navigate this changing landscape. Up until recently, an overwhelming majority of research on social cognition–specifically on understanding the mental states of others–has focused on childhood. In this chapter, I demonstrate that adolescence is an important developmental period for the refinement and sophistication of social cognitive processes that began developing during childhood. I also discuss the development of more advanced and distinct social cognitive processes. Additionally, I review the available literature on the developmental trajectories of advanced social cognition across adolescence–including individual differences, cultural considerations, and implications for adolescent health and wellbeing. Finally, I describe how future research may begin to address current knowledge gaps on this topic.

Download Full-text

Social functioning and social cognition in bipolar disorder: Is there a connection?

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.1175 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S336-S336

Author(s):

V. Maria Iulia ◽

R.C. Delphine ◽

H. Audrey ◽

K. Arthur

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Social Cognition ◽

Social Functioning ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Situational Factors ◽

Global Functioning ◽

Literature Searches ◽

The Social ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Bipolar Patients

IntroductionThe research interest in social cognition in bipolar disorder has increased in a significant way in the last decade showing major impairments, especially in mental state reasoning, even during euthymia (Samamé et al., 2012; Samamé et al., 2015). Social cognitive processes in humans describe the ways individuals draw inferences about other people's beliefs and the ways they weigh social situational factors in making these inferences (Green et al., 2008). A causal relationship between social cognition deficits and global functioning has been already established in schizophrenic populations (Green et al., 2015). But there is still little information regarding the relation between social cognition and social functioning in bipolar disorder.AimsTo review the relationship between general/social functioning and social cognitive impairments in bipolar patients.MethodsA systematic review of literature was conducted. Relevant articles were identified through literature searches in PubMed/Medline, EBSCOHost and Google Scholar databases dating from 2000 to 2015 using the keywords “bipolar”, “social cognition”, “theory of mind”, “mentalizing”, “emotion recognition”, “emotion processing”, “functioning” and “quality of life”.ResultsThe findings of the review will be discussed, regarding the specificity of the thymic state of the patients and the social cognition instruments used.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, the present review is the first to explore specifically the relation between the social cognition deficits and the general/social functioning of bipolar patients. This exploration is of interest for a better comprehension of this disorder to improve the outcome of the patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Social cognition in schizophrenia: Impairments and treatment approaches

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)73860-3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 2157-2157

Author(s):

W. Wölwer

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Cognitive Biases ◽

Cognitive Impairments ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Traditional Treatment ◽

Rehabilitation Programs ◽

Respective Treatment ◽

The Stability

Impairments in cognitive processes underlying social interaction (i.e. “social cognition”) have increasingly attracted interest in schizophrenia research during the last years. These impairments concern various components of social cognition, exist relatively independent from impairments in basic cognition and from clinical psychopathology, are already present at the onset of the disorder, and can even be detected in persons at high risk of developing schizophrenia. As social cognitive impairments are closely related to poor functional outcome, and because longitudinal studies have proven the stability of social cognitive impairments across the course of the disorder despite clinically efficacious traditional treatment, various specialized treatment and rehabilitation programs targeting social cognitive impairments have been developed during the last years. These programs differ significantly with regard to the conceptualization of the impairments and the required treatment strategies, i.e. whether the impairments are suggested to be represent cognitive “deficits” or cognitive “biases” requiring remediation vs. debiasing approaches. Moreover the programs differ with regard to the scope of cognitive subcomponents addressed, i.e. whether the program focuses on only one social cognitive subcomponent like affect recognition or whether several subcomponents are addressed in parallel. As the evaluation of such programs is still in an infant stage there is still debate about the most efficacious approach.This presentation will give an overview on social cognitive impairments and on respective treatment strategies, before the subsequent presentations will exemplify three treatment programs, which may help schizophrenia patients to overcome their impairments in social cognition and social functioning.

Download Full-text

From clinical cases to clinical research: Neurocognition and social cognition in schizophrenia

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.1335 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S372-S372

Author(s):

I. Gurovich ◽

O. Papsuev ◽

A. Shmukler ◽

L. Movina ◽

Y. Storozhakova

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Theory Of Mind ◽

Social Functioning ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Future Research ◽

Neurocognitive Deficits ◽

Cognitive Measures ◽

Prodromal Phase ◽

Clinical Cases

IntroductionNeurocognition and social cognition are the core deficits influencing social outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. These deficits are present in prodromal phase and throughout the illness, in first-degree relatives and are considered in the framework of neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative models.MethodFour clinical cases with patients reflecting different cognitive profiles were chosen to demonstrate heterogeneity of cognitive biases and their influence on the social function en vivo. The patients have undergone a number of neurocognitive and social cognitive measures.ResultsIn these four patients, we would like to highlight the dissociation of neurocognitive deficits, clinical manifestations and social functioning. Social cognitive measures revealed heterogeneity of biases in different domains. As a result of our observation, we can hypothesize that better social functioning was achieved by patients with better abilities to discriminate negative emotions and states of mind in others.ConclusionDespite certain limitations of case-report studies, it is hard not to point out heterogeneity and incoherence of social and neurocognition. We assume that intact domains of Processing of Emotions and Theory of Mind predispose to better social functioning, while it's hard to trace this connection to neurocognition. This result needs to be challenged on large samples in future research, concerning emotionality in Theory of Mind and capacity for empathy and its’ role in social functioning.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text