A multicentric study on cognitive functions in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected first-degree relatives

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. s244-s244
Author(s):  
M. Chieffi ◽  
A. Mucci ◽  
A. Rossi ◽  
P. Rocca ◽  
A. Bertolino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Specific Level ◽  
Multicentric Study ◽  
First Degree Relatives ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionNeurocognition may represent an indicator of genetic risk and poor outcome in schizophrenia patients (SCZ) predicting real life functioning.ObjectivesAs cognitive performance of unaffected first-degree relatives (UR) is intermediate between SCZ and healthy controls (HC), neurocognitive impairment may represent a marker of vulnerability to schizophrenia.AimsTo investigate social and neurocognition in all subjects and their impact on functional capacity of patients as markers of vulnerability.MethodsSample: 922 SCZ, 379 UR and 780 HC. Assessment: MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (neurocognition), Facial Emotion Identification Test and Awareness of Social Inference Test (social cognition) and Specific Level of Functioning Scale (social functioning). Analyses: Structural Equation Model (SEM) analyses to model the impact of all variables on functional outcome.ResultsSCZ scored worse in all domains than UR and HC. UR had significant impairments in all cognitive domains with respect to HC. Cognitive functioning had direct and indirect impacts on functional outcome mainly through social cognition and functional capacity. Social cognition had a direct impact on outcome, independent of neurocognition.ConclusionSCZ and UR display similar patterns of social and neurocognition deficits. Our results confirm a strong impact of neurocogniton on functional outcome. Social cognition has become an interesting object of study and its conceptualization as trait variable and the existence of a continuum between SCZ and UR are hypotheses for further research.AcknowledgementsThe study was carried out within the project “Multicenter study on factors influencing real-life social functioning of people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia” of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Relationships between neurocognition, social cognition and functional outcome in schizophrenia

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S67-S67 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mucci ◽  
S. Galderisi ◽  
A. Rossi ◽  
P. Rocca ◽  
A. Bertolino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Direct And Indirect Effects ◽  
Neurocognitive Deficits ◽  
Life Functioning

IntroductionThe inter-relationships of neurocognition, social cognition, residual psychopathology and real-life functioning are poorly understood. A large multicenter study was carried out by the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses to model relationships between neurocognitive deficits, psychopathology and real-life functioning, taking into account the role of functional capacity and social cognition.MethodsA structural equation model was used to investigate direct and indirect effects of neurocognition and psychopathology on real-life functioning. Social cognition and functional capacity were modeled as mediators.ResultsIn 921 patients with schizophrenia, neurocognition had both direct and indirect effects, through functional capacity and social cognition, on real-life functioning. Neurocognition predicted to a large extent social cognition on which depression and disorganization had a modest effect. Social cognition showed a significant direct impact on real-life functioning.ConclusionOur results support a strong link between neurocognition and functional outcome, independent of psychopathology. Social cognition accounted for unique incremental variance in real-life functioning.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Neurocognitive Predictors of Social Cognition in Subjects with Schizophrenia and their First-degree Relatives

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S40-S40 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mucci ◽  
S. Galderisi ◽  
P. Rocca ◽  
A. Rossi ◽  
A. Bertolino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Advisory Board ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
First Degree Relatives

IntroductionSocial cognition is a complex construct that refers to the functions required to understand other people's mental states and behavior. In people with schizophrenia, social cognition deficits account for a proportion of variance in functional outcome, independent of symptomatology. However, the relationships among social cognition, neurocognitive functioning and functional outcome are still unclear. Previous investigations had several limitations including small sample size, heterogeneous and limited measures of social cognition and neurocognitive functions.AimsWithin the study of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses, we investigated factors influencing outcome in patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected relatives. Psychopathology, including depression, neurocognition, social cognition and outcome were assessed using instruments designed to overcome some of the previous limitations.MethodsStructural equation modeling was used to test direct and indirect effects of neurocognition, social cognition and functional capacity on vocational and interpersonal functioning. Tests of facial emotion recognition, emotional intelligence and theory of mind were included to assess social cognition. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was used to investigate neurocognition.ResultsIn both subjects with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives, social cognition was found to be independent of negative symptoms and to have a direct impact on outcome. Neurocognition was a predictor of functional capacity and social cognition, which both mediated its impact on outcome. Social cognition was independent of functional capacity and negative symptoms.ConclusionsBetter understanding of how neurocognitive dysfunction and social cognition deficits relate to one another may guide efforts toward targeted treatment approaches.Disclosure of interestAM received honoraria or advisory board/consulting fees from the following companies: Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Otsuka, Pfizer and Pierre Fabre SG received honoraria or advisory board/consulting fees from the following companies: Lundbeck, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Hoffman-La Roche, Angelini-Acraf, Otsuka, Pierre Fabre and Gedeon-Richter.All other Authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Cardiac Rehabilitation after an Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Impact in Elderly Patients

Cardiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia Rodrigues ◽  
Mário Santos ◽  
Maria João Sousa ◽  
Bruno Brochado ◽  
Diana Anjo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Heart Rate Recovery ◽  
Real Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Chronotropic Response ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Supervised Exercise ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to decrease mortality and morbidity, improve the control of risk factors and the quality of life of patients with coronary artery disease. However, the elderly are underrepresented in most studies and in real-life CR programs. Our goal was to evaluate the impact of CR after an acute coronary syndrome in the elderly population. Methods: A cutoff of 65 years was used to dichotomize age. Our main focus was on the effects of ambulatory supervised exercise training on several surrogate markers, namely total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, probrain natriuretic peptide, International Physical Activity Questionnaire score, maximal exercise capacity, chronotropic response index and heart rate recovery. We evaluated those variables at the beginning and at the end of phase II of the CR program (after 3 months) and repeated the treadmill test at 12 months. Results: A total of 548 patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome were enrolled; 37% were 65 years old or older. Both age groups had a statistically significant improvement in all the evaluated parameters. Interestingly, at 12 months both groups maintained the improvement in functional capacity seen immediately after 3 months. Conclusions: The benefits of CR in terms of functional capacity, metabolic profile and other prognostic parameters were significant in both younger and older patients. Therefore, all eligible patients should be referred to CR programs, irrespective of age.

The social cognition individualized activities lab: Implementation of a new remediation intervention for social cognition

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S567-S567
Author(s):  
D. Palumbo ◽  
A. Mucci ◽  
G. Piegari ◽  
M. Chieffi ◽  
A. Mazza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Social Cognition ◽  
Real Life ◽  
The Social ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Life Functioning ◽  
Individualized Training ◽  
Group Sessions ◽  
Individualized Activities ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionPeople with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in neurocognitive and social cognitive (SC) processes which limit their social reintegration. SC was found to mediate in part the impact of neurocognitive dysfunctions on real-life functioning.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to implement a new intervention for patients with schizophrenia, the Social Cognition Individualized Activities Lab (So.C.I.A.L.) which trains both social cognition and neurocognitive functions.AimsTo determine the efficacy of the So.C.I.A.L in improving SC by a comparison with a validated cognitive remediation (CR) intervention: the Social Skills And Neurocognitive Individualized Training (SSANIT).MethodsNine stabilized patients accepted to participate in this pilot study. Five were randomized to So.C.I.A.L. and 4 to SSANIT. The two programs were matched for the overall treatment duration (20 weeks), as well as frequency and duration of the sessions. Both interventions included individual sessions of neurocognitive individualized training; So.C.I.A.L included group sessions on Emotion Recognition and Theory of Mind, while SSANIT group sessions of Social Skills Individualized Training.ResultsNo group difference was found for changes in neurocognition, while a significant group effect was observed for changes in SC, due to improvement only in the So.C.I.A.L. group.ConclusionsThe study results showed a specific effect of the So.C.I.A.L. on SC, beyond the effect on neurocognition. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of So.C.I.A.L. on real-life functioning in a larger group of subjects.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Childhood sexual and physical abuse: age at exposure modulates impact on functional outcome in early psychosis patients

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (13) ◽  
pp. 2727-2736 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Alameda ◽  
C. Ferrari ◽  
P. S. Baumann ◽  
M. Gholam-Rezaee ◽  
K. Q. Do ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Early Psychosis ◽  
Global Assessment Of Functioning ◽  
Functional Impairments ◽  
Functional Level ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundEvidence suggests a relationship between exposure to trauma during childhood and functional impairments in psychotic patients. However, the impact of age at the time of exposure has been understudied in early psychosis (EP) patients.MethodTwo hundred and twenty-five patients aged 18–35 years were assessed at baseline and after 2, 6, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months of treatment. Patients exposed to sexual and/or physical abuse (SPA) were classified according to age at the time of first exposure (Early SPA: before age 11 years; Late SPA: between ages 12 and 15 years) and then compared to patients who were not exposed to such trauma (Non-SPA). The functional level in the premorbid phase was measured with the Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS) and with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale and the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) during follow-up.ResultsThere were 24.8% of patients with a documented history of SPA. Late SPA patients were more likely to be female (p= 0.010). Comparison with non-SPA patients revealed that: (1) both Early and Late SPA groups showed poorer premorbid social functioning during early adolescence, and (2) while patients with Early SPA had poorer functional level at follow-up with lower GAF (p= 0.025) and lower SOFAS (p= 0.048) scores, Late SPA patients did not.ConclusionOur results suggest a link between exposure to SPA and the later impairment of social functioning before the onset of the disease. EP patients exposed to SPA before age 12 may present long-lasting functional impairment, while patients exposed at a later age may improve in this regard and have a better functional outcome.

scholarly journals The impact of the narrative mindset on effectivity in social problem solving

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0253729
Author(s):  
Jerzy Trzebiński ◽  
Jolanta Zuzanna Czarnecka ◽  
Maciej Cabański
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Social Problem ◽  
Social Information ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Social Problem Solving ◽  
Positive Real ◽  
Effective Instrument ◽  
The Impact

The narrative mindset is a tendency to interpret social information in the frame of stories. Two experiments were conducted to determine if and why the narrative mindset increases social problem-solving effectivity. The experiments consisted of two parts: the experimental manipulation (inducing the narrative mindset or control condition) and the observation of effects. In the second part, presented as a separate study, a participant was asked to advise other people facing interpersonal problems (experiment 1) or emotional problems (experiment 2). Three pairs of coders judged each piece of advice independently on three scales: Effectivity of the advice, empathy, and personalization (using their own experiences in providing the advice). The results indicate that the narrative mindset increases empathy, supported by the co-occurring increase in the problem’s personalization, which leads to higher effectivity. The results reveal the positive real-life implications of structuring social information within a story frame. It may encourage the introduction of the narrative mindset effects into an area of social cognition research. Finally, the experiments show that the narrative mindset may be activated experimentally, providing an effective instrument to test the impact of narrative knowledge on social cognition.

scholarly journals Improving Knowledge on Pathways to Functional Outcome in Schizophrenia: Main Results From the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Giuliani ◽  
Giulia Maria Giordano ◽  
Paola Bucci ◽  
Pasquale Pezzella ◽  
Francesco Brando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Life Skills ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Follow Up Study

The identification of factors associated with functional outcome of subjects with schizophrenia is a great challenge in current research oriented to the personalization of care. The Italian Network for Research on Psychoses (NIRP) is a network of 26 university psychiatric clinics and/or mental health departments aimed to carry out multicenter research projects to improve the standards of prevention, diagnosis, and treatments of schizophrenia. The network has promoted 2 main studies, a cross-sectional one and a longitudinal one and seven “add-on” studies. The cross-sectional study of the network included 921 subjects with schizophrenia, 379 unaffected first-degree relatives of these patients, and 780 healthy controls. Results from this study documented that social and non-social cognition, functional capacity, negative symptoms, resilience, and family or social incentives strongly influence a measure of global functioning. The follow-up study included 618 patients from the original sample and has produced evidence of the key role of cognition, functional capacity, the experiential domain of negative symptoms, and everyday life skills in predicting functional outcome. The longitudinal study demonstrated that social cognition and the experiential domain of negative symptoms had an impact on interpersonal functioning, while non-social cognition had an impact on everyday life skills. Both non-social cognition and social cognition predicted work skills. The research question concerning the relationships of cognitive impairment and negative symptoms has been investigated with an innovative approach, using a structural equation model (SEM) and a network analysis. Both analyses demonstrated that only the experiential domain of negative symptoms had a distinct direct effect on functioning. The network analysis showed that expressive deficit was connected to functional capacity, as were social and non-social cognitive variables, and to disorganization. These findings were confirmed by the follow-up study. The add-on studies showed distinct electrophysiological correlates of the two negative symptom domains and the partial overlap between disorganization and neurocognitive impairment. Moreover, they identified and characterized a specific subgroup of patients suffering from schizophrenia with autism spectrum symptoms. The NIRP studies have implications for personalized management of patients with schizophrenia and highlight the need for a careful assessment of several domains rarely evaluated in clinical settings.

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