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Vaskinn A, Ueland T, Melle I, Sundet K. Sex differences in social cognition among individuals with schizophrenia and in healthy control participants: a secondary analysis of published data. Arch Womens Ment Health 2024:10.1007/s00737-024-01422-8. [PMID: 38244033 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-024-01422-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Sex differences are present among individuals experiencing schizophrenia. Whether these differences extend to social cognition is unclear. In this study, we investigated sex differences in emotion perception, social perception and theory of mind (ToM). METHODS We examined sex differences between males and females with schizophrenia on five social cognitive tests. Healthy male and female control participants were included to examine if any sex difference was illness-specific. Emotion perception was measured with Pictures of Facial Affect (PFA) and Emotion in Biological Motion (EmoBio); social perception with the Relationships Across Domains Test (RAD); and ToM with the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC) and Hinting Task. RESULTS Two-way analyses of variance revealed overall group differences for all tests, with healthy controls outperforming individuals with schizophrenia. Significant sex effects were present for PFA and Hinting Task. There were no significant interaction effects. Within-group independent samples t-tests yielded one significant sex difference, i.e., among healthy controls for PFA. CONCLUSIONS Females had better facial emotion perception than males. This sex difference was statistically significant among healthy controls and medium-large among individuals experiencing schizophrenia. There were no significant sex differences for other social cognitive domains. The study did not find evidence for a general female advantage in social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Vaskinn
- Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry, Oslo University Hospital, PO Box 4956, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Torill Ueland
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Psychosis Research Section, Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Melle
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Psychosis Research Section, Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kjetil Sundet
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Liu Y, Zhang C, Li M, Gao Y, Wang Y, Liu X, Li J. Exploring specific associations of childhood maltreatment with social cognition in drug-naive first-episode major depressive disorder: a sex-centric approach. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023:10.1007/s00406-023-01723-6. [PMID: 38038762 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01723-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been linked to social cognition deficits in major depressive disorder (MDD), but little is known about sex-specific effects. This study aimed to investigate the sex-specific associations of CM with social cognition in first-episode drug-naive patients with MDD. A total of 117 first-episode drug-naive patients with MDD and 134 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited and assessed for demographic and clinical characteristics. All participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Interpersonal Reactivity Index-C (IRI), and Facial Emotion Recognition Test. Partial correlation analysis was used to explore the sex-specific association of CM with social cognition. Our findings revealed significant differences in the associations of CM with social cognition between males and females in MDD patients. In comparison to HCs, the associations of CM with social cognition displayed distinct and even contrasting sex-specific patterns in MDD patients. Specifically, male MDD patients exhibited unique imbalanced associations between emotional neglect and alexithymia, while both female and male MDD patients shared imbalanced associations of childhood abuse with empathy. These results emphasize the importance of considering the sex-specific associations of CM with social cognition in MDD and highlight the need for personalized interventions and treatments based on sex for MDD patients with a history of CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, 13 Liulin RdHexi District, Tianjin, 300222, China
| | - Chuhao Zhang
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, 13 Liulin RdHexi District, Tianjin, 300222, China
| | - Meijuan Li
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, 13 Liulin RdHexi District, Tianjin, 300222, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, 13 Liulin RdHexi District, Tianjin, 300222, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, 13 Liulin RdHexi District, Tianjin, 300222, China
| | - Xueying Liu
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, 13 Liulin RdHexi District, Tianjin, 300222, China
| | - Jie Li
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, 13 Liulin RdHexi District, Tianjin, 300222, China.
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Velthorst E, Socrates A, Alizadeh BZ, van Amelsvoort T, Bartels-Velthuis AA, Bruggeman R, Cahn W, de Haan L, Schirmbeck F, Simons CJP, van Os J, Fett AK. Age-Related Social Cognitive Performance in Individuals With Psychotic Disorders and Their First-Degree Relatives. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:1460-1469. [PMID: 37210736 PMCID: PMC10686369 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social cognitive impairment is a recognized feature of psychotic disorders. However, potential age-related differences in social cognitive impairment have rarely been studied. STUDY DESIGN Data came from 905 individuals with a psychotic disorder, 966 unaffected siblings, and 544 never-psychotic controls aged 18-55 who participated in the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis (GROUP) study. Multilevel linear models were fitted to study group main effects and the interaction between group and age on emotion perception and processing (EPP; degraded facial affect recognition) and theory of mind (ToM; hinting task) performance. Age-related differences in the association between socio-demographic and clinical factors, and EPP and ToM were also explored. STUDY RESULTS Across groups, EPP performance was associated with age (β = -0.02, z = -7.60, 95% CI: -0.02, -0.01, P < .001), with older participants performing worse than younger ones. A significant group-by-age interaction on ToM (X2(2) = 13.15, P = .001) indicated that older patients performed better than younger ones, while no age-related difference in performance was apparent among siblings and controls. In patients, the association between negative symptoms and ToM was stronger for younger than older patients (z = 2.16, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS The findings point to different age-related performance patterns on tests of 2 key social cognitive domains. ToM performance was better in older individuals, although this effect was only observed for patients. EPP was less accurate in older compared with younger individuals. These findings have implications with respect to when social cognitive training should be offered to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Velthorst
- Department of Research, Mental Health Organization “GGZ Noord-Holland-Noord,”Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands
| | - Adam Socrates
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Seaver Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Behrooz Z Alizadeh
- Rob Giel Research Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Therese van Amelsvoort
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Agna A Bartels-Velthuis
- Rob Giel Research Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Bruggeman
- Rob Giel Research Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wiepke Cahn
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Altrecht, General Mental Health Care, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lieuwe de Haan
- Seaver Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Arkin, Institute for Mental Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frederike Schirmbeck
- Seaver Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Arkin, Institute for Mental Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia J P Simons
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- GGzE Institute for Mental Health Care, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jim van Os
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Psychiatry, Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, London, UK
| | - Anne-Kathrin Fett
- Department of Psychology, City, University of London, London, UK
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
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Yang M, Xu J, Chen X, Liu L, Kong D, Yang Y, Chen W, Li Z, Zhang X. Sex-based influential factors for dental caries in patients with schizophrenia. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:735. [PMID: 37817127 PMCID: PMC10566046 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05256-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a common mental disorder that seriously affects patients' daily lives and brings heavy psychological and economic burdens to their families and society. The oral problems of patients with schizophrenia are gradually gaining attention, among which dental caries are among the most common oral diseases. Sex differences may be related not only to the various clinical symptoms of schizophrenia but also to different oral hygiene statuses; therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to investigate sex differences related to influencing factors for dental caries in patients with schizophrenia. METHOD Inpatients with schizophrenia over 18 years old were included in this study, and multidimensional indicators such as demographics, symptom and cognitive impairment assessments, medications, and the caries index of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) were collected. An analysis of sex-based influential factors for dental caries in schizophrenia patients was performed. RESULTS Four-hundred and ninety-six patients with schizophrenia were included, with a mean age of 46.73 ± 12.23 years, of which 142 were females and 354 were males. The mean DMFT was significantly higher in males (8.81 ± 8.50) than in females (5.63 ± 6.61, p < 0.001), and the odd ratio of caries in males to females was significantly higher as well (OR = 2.305, p < 0.001). The influential factors of caries in male patients were independently associated with age and smoking status, in which current smokers were at the highest risk for developing caries, and different smoking statuses had various influencing factors for caries. The influencing factors for caries in female patients were independently associated with age, antipsychotic dose, PANSS-positive symptoms, and MMSE levels. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest sex differences exist among influential factors for caries in patients with schizophrenia. These risk factors may even be associated with and affect the treatment and prognosis of psychiatric symptoms in patients. Therefore, oral hygiene management of patients with schizophrenia should be enhanced. These differential factors provide new visions and ideas for formulating individual interventions, treatments, and care priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, No.8 Huli-West 1st-Alley, Jinniu District, Chengdu, 610036 China
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Qingshuihe Campus: No.2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu, 611731 China
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Qingshuihe Campus: No.2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu, 611731 China
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, Qingdao mental health center, No. 299, Nanjing Road, Qingdao, 266034 China
| | - Xiaoqin Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Qingdao mental health center, No. 299, Nanjing Road, Qingdao, 266034 China
| | - Liju Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Qingshuihe Campus: No.2006, Xiyuan Ave, West Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu, 611731 China
| | - Di Kong
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, No.8 Huli-West 1st-Alley, Jinniu District, Chengdu, 610036 China
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, No.8 Huli-West 1st-Alley, Jinniu District, Chengdu, 610036 China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, No.8 Huli-West 1st-Alley, Jinniu District, Chengdu, 610036 China
| | - Zezhi Li
- Department of Nutritional and Metabolic Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 36 Mingxin Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510370 China
- Department of Psychiatry, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, 36 Mingxin Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510370 China
- Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou Medical University, 36 Mingxin Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510370 China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101 China
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Pavlova MA, Moosavi J, Carbon CC, Fallgatter AJ, Sokolov AN. Emotions behind a mask: the value of disgust. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 9:58. [PMID: 37709796 PMCID: PMC10502067 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-023-00388-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The impact of face masks on social cognition and interaction became a popular topic due to the long-lasting COVID-19 pandemic. This theme persists in the focus of attention beyond the pandemic, since face covering not only reduces the overall amount of face information available but also introduces biases and prejudices affecting social perception at large. Many questions are still open. One of them is whether gender of beholders affects inferring of emotions covered by face masks. Reading covered faces may be particularly challenging for individuals with mental disorders, most of which are gender-specific. Previous findings are not only sparse, but inconclusive because most research had been conducted online with resulting samples heavily dominated by females. Here in a face-to-face study, females and males were presented with a randomized set of faces covered by masks. In a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm, participants had to indicate facial emotions displayed by posers. In general, the outcome dovetails with earlier findings that face masks affect emotion recognition in a dissimilar way: Inferring some emotions suffers more severely than others, with the most pronounced influence of mask wearing on disgust and close to ceiling recognition of fear and neutral expressions. Contrary to our expectations, however, males were on overall more proficient in emotion recognition. In particular, males substantially excelled in inferring disgust. The findings help to understand gender differences in recognition of disgust, the forgotten emotion of psychiatry, that is of substantial value for a wide range of mental disorders including schizophrenia. Watch Prof. Marina Pavlova discussing this her work and this article: https://vimeo.com/860126397/5966610f49?share=copy .
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina A Pavlova
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical School and University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Jonas Moosavi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical School and University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claus-Christian Carbon
- Department of General Psychology and Methodology, University of Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany
| | - Andreas J Fallgatter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical School and University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander N Sokolov
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical School and University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Li Y, Zhou Y, Li Y, Luo RCX, B Ganapathi P, Wu HE, Liu H, Wang D, Zhang X. Gender differences in empathy and clinical symptoms in chronic schizophrenia patients: a large sample study based on a Chinese Han population. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract 2023; 27:264-271. [PMID: 36719702 DOI: 10.1080/13651501.2023.2171889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Empathy is social cognition and reduced empathy in schizophrenia (SCZ) has been noted; however, whether there are gender differences in empathy remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore this issue by examining a large sample of the population with SCZ. METHODS We recruited 987 SCZ patients (M/F = 638/349). The empathy was assessed by The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was adopted to assess their clinical psychiatric symptoms and their ability to recognise the facial emotions of others was assessed by the Pictures Of Facial Affect (POFA). RESULTS Female SCZ patients had higher IRI total score than male patients. In male patients, Pearson correlation analysis showed that empathy was negatively correlated with PANSS total score and negative symptom subscale scores, but positively correlated with anger identification. In female patients, IRI total score was negatively correlated with PANSS total score as well as its positive and negative symptom subscale scores (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION There are gender differences in the empathy of SCZ patients, with female patients having greater empathy and a correlation with their clinical symptoms. This gender difference may provide potential clinical value for the treatment of SCZ.KEY POINTSFemale SCZ were more likely to empathise than males;Female patients had more severe clinical symptoms than males;There were gender differences in the association between certain specific clinical presentations and empathy.In future studies, it may be useful to investigate gender differences in schizophrenia empathy for the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yongjie Zhou
- Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuchen Li
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Rui-Chen-Xi Luo
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Pallavi B Ganapathi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hanjing Emily Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Huanzhong Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Dongmei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Li Y, Luo R, Wang D, Zhang X. Association between Empathy and Clinical Symptoms among Overweight and Non-Overweight Chinese Chronic Schizophrenia Patients. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1075. [PMID: 37509007 PMCID: PMC10377734 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13071075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia are afflicted by severe clinical symptoms and serious cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential relationships between clinical symptoms and empathy and their variations between overweight and non-overweight schizophrenia patients. To address this problem, a group of 776 inpatients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia (504 overweight patients and 272 non-overweight patients) was recruited. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and its five-factor model were employed to assess clinical symptoms, while empathy levels were measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). The overweight patients had lower education levels but higher positive symptoms than the non-overweight patients (all p < 0.05). In addition, the overweight patients performed significantly better with respect to empathy (FDR-corrected p < 0.05). Additional multiple regression analyses indicated significant associations between the total score of the IRI and PANSS negative symptoms, gender, and family history of psychiatric disorders among the overweight group; among non-overweight patients, there was a significant correlation between suicide and the total score of the IRI. This study provides evidence suggesting that chronic schizophrenia patients who are overweight may have distinct clinical characteristics, particularly with respect to their empathy, compared with non-overweight patients. Moreover, different variables are associated with empathy in different groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Li
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ruichenxi Luo
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Dongmei Wang
- Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Song S, Liu N, Wang G, Wang Y, Zhang X, Zhao X, Chang H, Yu Z, Liu X. Sex Specificity in the Mixed Effects of Blood Heavy Metals and Cognitive Function on Elderly: Evidence from NHANES. Nutrients 2023; 15:2874. [PMID: 37447200 DOI: 10.3390/nu15132874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The way that males and females react to environmental exposures and negative impacts on their neurological systems is often different. Although previous research has examined the cognitively impairing effects of solitary metal exposures, the relationship between metal mixtures and cognitive function, particularly when considering an individual's sex, remains elusive. This study aimed to investigate the sex differences in the association between multiple metal combinations and cognitive function in older Americans. This research employed the 2011-2014 NHANES survey of elderly Americans. The association between five mixed metals and four cognitive tests (the animal fluency test (AFT), the digit symbol substitution test (DSST), the instant recall test (IRT), and the delayed recall test (DRT)) were investigated with generalized linear regression model (GLM), Bayesian kernel machine regression model (BKMR), weighted quantile sum regression model (WQS), and quantile g-computation regression model (Qgcomp). A total of 1833 people, including 883 males and 950 females, enrolled in this cross-sectional study. We discovered that blood lead and blood cadmium were negatively associated with cognitive performance, while blood selenium demonstrated a positive association with cognitive function in older people. The negative relationship of heavy metal combinations on cognitive function might be somewhat reduced or even reversed via selenium. The IRT, AFT, and DSST are three of the four cognitive tests where men had more dramatic positive or negative results. There was a sex-specific connection between blood metal ratios and cognitive function among older Americans, as evidenced by the more significant relationship between mixed metals and cognitive performance in men (either positively or negatively). These results emphasize the impacts of ambient heavy metal exposure on cognitive function by employing sex-specific methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaixing Song
- Center for Clinical Single-Cell Biomedicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Nan Liu
- Institute of Environment and Health, South China Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Guoxu Wang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yulin Wang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaoan Zhang
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Hui Chang
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Zengli Yu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaozhuan Liu
- Center for Clinical Single-Cell Biomedicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
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Yang M, Yang Y, Liu L, Kong D, Xu M, Huang X, Luo C, Zhao G, Zhang X, Huang Y, Tu Y, Li Z. Sex differences in factors influencing hospital-acquired pneumonia in schizophrenia patients receiving modified electroconvulsive therapy. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1127262. [PMID: 36865072 PMCID: PMC9971594 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1127262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences may be presented in the clinical features or symptoms of schizophrenia patients but also affect the occurrence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Modified electroconvulsive therapy (mECT) is a common treatment method for schizophrenia, used in combination with antipsychotics. This retrospective research explores the sex difference in HAP affecting patients with schizophrenia who have received mECT treatment during hospitalization. METHODS We included schizophrenia inpatients treated with mECT and antipsychotics between January 2015 and April 2022. Blood-related and demographic data collected on admission were analyzed. Influencing factors of HAP in male and female groups were assessed separately. RESULTS A total of 951 schizophrenia patients treated with mECT were enrolled in the study, including 375 males and 576 females, of which 62 patients experienced HAP during hospitalization. The risk period of HAP in these patients was found to be the first day after each mECT treatment and the first three sessions of mECT treatment. Statistically significant differences in the incidence of HAP were identified in male vs. female groups, with an incidence in men about 2.3 times higher than that in women (P < 0.001). Lower total cholesterol (Z = -2.147, P = 0.032) and the use of anti-parkinsonian drugs (χ2 = 17.973, P < 0.001) were found to be independent risk factors of HAP in male patients, while lower lymphocyte count (Z = -2.408, P = 0.016), hypertension (χ2 = 9.096, P = 0.003), and use of sedative-hypnotic drugs (χ2 = 13.636, P < 0.001) were identified in female patients. CONCLUSION Influencing factors of HAP in schizophrenia patients treated with mECT have gender differences. The first day after each mECT treatment and the first three sessions of mECT treatment were identified to have the greatest risk for HAP development. Therefore, it would be imperative to monitor clinical management and medications during this period according to these gender differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China.,The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Liju Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Di Kong
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Min Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Xincheng Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Guocheng Zhao
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chongqing Mental Health Center, Chongqing, China
| | - Yunzhong Tu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Psychiatry, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zezhi Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Psychiatry, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
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Romagnano V, Sokolov AN, Steinwand P, Fallgatter AJ, Pavlova MA. Face pareidolia in male schizophrenia. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 8:112. [PMID: 36517504 PMCID: PMC9751144 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-022-00315-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Faces are valuable signals for efficient social interaction. Yet, social cognition including the sensitivity to a coarse face scheme may be deviant in schizophrenia (SZ). Tuning to faces in non-face images such as shadows, grilled toasts, or ink blots is termed face pareidolia. This phenomenon is poorly investigated in SZ. Here face tuning was assessed in 44 male participants with SZ and person-by-person matched controls by using recently created Face-n-Thing images (photographs of non-face objects to a varying degree resembling a face). The advantage of these images is that single components do not automatically trigger face processing. Participants were administered a set of images with upright and inverted (180° in the image plane) orientation. In a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm, they had to indicate whether an image resembled a face. The findings showed that: (i) With upright orientation, SZ patients exhibited deficits in face tuning: they provided much fewer face responses than controls. (ii) Inversion generally hindered face pareidolia. However, while in neurotypical males, inversion led to a drastic drop in face impression, in SZ, the impact of orientation was reduced. (iii) Finally, in accord with the signal detection theory analysis, the sensitivity index (d-prime) was lower in SZ, whereas no difference occurred in decision criterion. The outcome suggests altered face pareidolia in SZ is caused by lower face sensitivity rather than by alterations in cognitive bias. Comparison of these findings with earlier evidence confirms that tuning to social signals is lower in SZ, and warrants tailored brain imaging research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Romagnano
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School and University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, and Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander N Sokolov
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School and University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, and Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Steinwand
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School and University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, and Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas J Fallgatter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School and University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, and Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marina A Pavlova
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School and University Hospital, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, and Tübingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), Tübingen, Germany.
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11
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Freeman HB, Lee J. Sex Differences in Cognition in Schizophrenia: What We Know and What We Do Not Know. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 63:463-474. [PMID: 36271194 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a core feature of schizophrenia. This selective review examines whether schizophrenia patients show preserved sexual dimorphism in cognition. Existing studies using performance tasks largely show comparable sex effects between schizophrenia patients and healthy populations. This pattern appears to be similar across multiple cognitive domains and across phase of illness. Our selective review also identifies several unresolved questions about sex differences in cognition in schizophrenia. A better understanding of sex differences in cognition in schizophrenia may provide important clues to probing the relationship between cognitive impairment and pathophysiological processes of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Bin Freeman
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Junghee Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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12
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Chen M, Zhang L, Jiang Q. Gender Difference in Cognitive Function Among Stable Schizophrenia: A Network Perspective. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2022; 18:2991-3000. [PMID: 36578902 PMCID: PMC9792107 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s393586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the gender differences and influencing factors of cognitive function in stable schizophrenic patients, and to explore the cognitive characteristics of male and female patients. METHODS A total of 298 patients with chronic schizophrenia were divided into two groups according to gender. The differences of demographic and clinical characteristics between the two groups were firstly analyzed. Then the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was used to measure their cognitive function, and the correlation between cognitive function and demographic characteristics and clinical characteristics was analyzed. Finally, the gender-based cognitive characteristics were explored through network analysis. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the RBANS total score and sub-item score between the male schizophrenia and female schizophrenia patients. Correlation analysis showed that RBANS total score was inversely proportional with age, duration and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score in male schizophrenia, while being directly proportional with age at onset and inversely proportional with PANSS score in female schizophrenia. Network analysis showed that language was the core of cognitive function for male schizophrenia, and the delayed memory was the core of cognitive function for female schizophrenia. CONCLUSION There was no significant gender difference in cognitive function score among patients with stable schizophrenia. The core cognitive functions of male and female schizophrenia are language and delayed memory, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyi Chen
- Department of Geriatric, Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Geriatric, Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Jiang
- Department of Geriatric, Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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