Abstract
Deficits in social cognition and metacognition impact the course of psychosis. Gender differences in social cognition and metacognition could explain heterogeneity in psychosis. 174 (58 females) patients with first-episode psychosis completed a clinical, neuropsychological, social cognitive and metacognitive assessment. Subsequent latent profile analysis split by gender yielded 2 clusters common to both genders, a specific male profile characterized by presenting jumping to conclusions and a specific female profile characterized by cognitive biases. Males and females in the homogeneous profile seem to have a more benign course of illness. Males with jumping to conclusions had more clinical symptoms and more neuropsychological deficits. Females with cognitive biases were younger and had less self-esteem. These results suggest that males and females may benefit from specific targeted treatment and highlights the need to consider gender when planning interventions.