The Relationship between Negative Symptoms and Cognitive Functioning in Patients with an At-Risk Mental State for Psychosis

IntroductionNegative symptoms and cognitive impairments are both present in patients with an at risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis and negatively affect functioning and outcome. According to previous studies in patients with first-episode psychosis, negative symptoms are negatively associated with cognitive functioning while positive symptoms do not seem to be associated. Yet, little is known about the specific relationship of negative symptoms and cognitive functioning in ARMS patients.ObjectiveTo evaluate, the relationship between negative symptoms and cognitive functioning in ARMS patients.MethodsData of 154 ARMS patients were collected within the prospective Basel early detection of psychosis (FePsy) study. Negative symptoms were assessed with the SANS, positive psychotic symptoms with the BPRS, cognitive functioning with an extensive neuropsychological test battery. Multiple regressions were applied and results were controlled for age and gender.ResultsRegression analyses showed a significant, negative association between negative but not positive psychotic symptoms and cognitive functioning, showing the strongest association with verbal fluency (see Fig. 1). However, results mainly did not withstand correction for multiple testing.ConclusionsThe association found between verbal fluency and negative symptoms may be indicative of an overlap between those constructs. Finally, verbal fluency might have a strong influence on the clinical impression of negative symptoms, especially on alogia.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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The relationship between cognitive insight and cognitive performance among individuals with at-risk mental state for developing psychosis

Schizophrenia Research ◽

10.1016/j.schres.2017.04.031 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 192 ◽

pp. 281-286 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Noriyuki Ohmuro ◽

Masahiro Katsura ◽

Chika Obara ◽

Tatsuo Kikuchi ◽

Yumiko Hamaie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Mental State ◽

Cognitive Insight ◽

The Relationship ◽

At Risk Mental State

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Efficiency of an Online Health-Promotion Program in Individuals with At-Risk Mental State during the COVID-19 Pandemic

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182211875 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (22) ◽

pp. 11875

Author(s):

Ching-Lun Tsai ◽

Cheng-Hao Tu ◽

Jui-Cheng Chen ◽

Hsien-Yuan Lane ◽

Wei-Fen Ma

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

At Risk ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Mental State ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Health Promotion Program ◽

Health Issues ◽

Promotion Program ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

At Risk Mental State

Mental health issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic greatly impact people’s daily lives. Individuals with an at-risk mental state are more vulnerable to mental health issues, and these may lead to onset of full psychotic illnesses. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an online health-promotion program for physical and mental health of the individuals with at-risk mental state during the COVID-19 pandemic. A single group study with pre- and post-tests was conducted in 39 young adults with at-risk mental state. The participants were provided with the online health-promotion program after completing the pretest. Via social media, the online counseling program released one topic of material (about 15–20 min) every two weeks and provided interactive counseling for specific personal health needs on the platform. Study questionnaires, physiological examination, and blood serum examination were completed at both pre- and post-tests. The participants showed significant improvements in mental risk, anxiety, and physical activity after participating in the program. Furthermore, those who did not complete the program had significantly more severe negative symptoms. These results imply that the online health-promotion program is effective and accessible under certain barriers such as the COVID-19 pandemic, but not for individuals with higher risk of more negative mental health symptoms.

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Poster #M147 GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN AT-RISK MENTAL STATE FOR PSYCHOSIS, FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS AND HEALTHY CONTROL SUBJECTS

Schizophrenia Research ◽

10.1016/s0920-9964(14)70697-8 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 153 ◽

pp. S243-S244

Author(s):

Sarah Ittig ◽

Erich Studerus ◽

Martina Papmeyer ◽

Martina Uttinger ◽

Susan Koranyi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

At Risk ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Mental State ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

First Episode ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Episode Psychosis ◽

Healthy Control ◽

At Risk Mental State

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Evaluation of the ‘Jumping to conclusions’ bias in different subgroups of the at-risk mental state: from cognitive basic symptoms to UHR criteria

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291716000465 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 46 (10) ◽

pp. 2071-2081 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

F. Rausch ◽

S. Eisenacher ◽

H. Elkin ◽

S. Englisch ◽

S. Kayser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

At Risk ◽

Mental State ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Probabilistic Reasoning ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Similar Data ◽

Basic Symptoms ◽

Jumping To Conclusions ◽

At Risk Mental State

BackgroundPatients with psychosis display the so-called ‘Jumping to Conclusions’ bias (JTC) – a tendency for hasty decision-making in probabilistic reasoning tasks. So far, only a few studies have evaluated the JTC bias in ‘at-risk mental state’ (ARMS) patients, specifically in ARMS samples fulfilling ‘ultra-high risk’ (UHR) criteria, thus not allowing for comparisons between different ARMS subgroups.MethodIn the framework of the PREVENT (secondary prevention of schizophrenia) study, a JTC task was applied to 188 patients either fulfilling UHR criteria or presenting with cognitive basic symptoms (BS). Similar data were available for 30 healthy control participants matched for age, gender, education and premorbid verbal intelligence. ARMS patients were identified by the Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms (SIPS) and the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument – Adult Version (SPI-A).ResultsThe mean number of draws to decision (DTD) significantly differed between ARM -subgroups: UHR patients made significantly less draws to make a decision than ARMS patients with only cognitive BS. Furthermore, UHR patients tended to fulfil behavioural criteria for JTC more often than BS patients. In a secondary analysis, ARMS patients were much hastier in their decision-making than controls. In patients, DTD was moderately associated with positive and negative symptoms as well as disorganization and excitement.ConclusionsOur data indicate an enhanced JTC bias in the UHR group compared to ARMS patients with only cognitive BS. This underscores the importance of reasoning deficits within cognitive theories of the developing psychosis. Interactions with the liability to psychotic transitions and therapeutic interventions should be unravelled in longitudinal studies.

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Ethnicity and baseline symptomatology in patients with an At Risk Mental State for psychosis

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291711001486 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 247-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

E. Velthorst ◽

D. H. Nieman ◽

W. Veling ◽

R. M. Klaassen ◽

S. Dragt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Ethnic Identity ◽

Ethnic Minority ◽

Mental State ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Minority Group ◽

Ethnic Minority Group ◽

Psychotic Episode ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

At Risk Mental State

BackgroundEthnicity has been associated with different incidence rates and different symptom profiles in young patients with psychotic-like disorders. No studies so far have examined the effect of ethnicity on symptoms in people with an At Risk Mental State (ARMS).MethodIn this cross-sectional study, we analysed the relationship between ethnicity and baseline data on the severity of psychopathology scores in 201 help-seeking patients who met the ARMS criteria and agreed to participate in the Dutch Early Detection and Intervention (EDIE-NL) trial. Eighty-seven of these patients had a non-Dutch ethnicity. We explored the possible mediating role of ethnic identity.ResultsHigher rates of negative symptoms, and of anhedonia in particular, were found in the ethnic minority group. This result could be attributed mainly to the Moroccan-Dutch and Turkish-Dutch subgroups, who also presented with more depression symptoms when the groups were examined separately. The ethnic minority group displayed a lower level of ethnic group identity compared to the immigrants of the International Comparative Study of Ethnocultural Youth (ICSEY). Ethnic identity was inversely related to symptoms in the Moroccan-Dutch patient group.ConclusionsThe prevalence of more severe negative symptoms and depression symptoms in ethnic minority groups deserves more attention, as the experience of attenuated positive symptoms when accompanied by negative symptoms or distress has proven to be predictive for transition to a first psychotic episode.

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