Social Functioning in Schizophrenia Clinical Correlations

Associations of Vocal Features, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Cognitive Functions in Schizophrenia

Purpose

This study explored the use of advanced computational techniques in vocal analysis to improve the assessment of psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functions in schizophrenia. We hypothesized that digital signal processing techniques, such as mel spectrogram and mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC), could be used for objective evaluation of psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functions based on the analysis of alterations in the vocal characteristics.

Patients and Methods

Voice samples from 14 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia (92.9% female) were collected using a microphone array, and vocal features were extracted from the samples using mel spectrogram and MFCC techniques. Psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functions were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the computer-based tool Cognitrax.

Results

We found significant negative correlations between specific vocal features (mel spectrogram and MFCC) and cognitive functions, particularly working memory (β = -0.645, p = 0.023) and sustained attention (β = -0.626, p = 0.029). No direct correlations were found between vocal features and psychiatric symptoms, as measured by PANSS scores. However, the correlations between cognitive functions and PANSS total scores were significant (β = -0.604, p = 0.037), suggesting that cognitive functions may mediate the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and vocal characteristics.

Conclusion

This study underscores the potential of vocal analysis as a non-invasive tool for assessing cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Future research should focus on expanding the sample size and including diverse populations to enhance the generalizability of these findings.

Detecting Encrypted and Unencrypted Network Data Using Entropy Analysis and Confidence Intervals

The detection of clear and encrypted data that are transported through computer networks is of particular importance both for protecting the data and the users to whom they belong and to whom they are intended, as well as the networks through which they are transmitted. The proposed method consists of an algorithm that classifies the data it receives by testing the belongingness of their standard deviation values to established confidence intervals. Following the evaluation of the algorithm, an accuracy of 94.73% was obtained and it appears that the results can be used with certainty in subsequent analyses of the data detection.

The Current Status of Drug Discovery for the Oxytocin Receptor

The oxytocin receptor plays a significant role in peripheral regulation of parturition and lactation. Given this important role, multiple drug discovery programs have been conducted to develop agonists and antagonists for peripheral activity. The role of the oxytocin receptor in the central nervous system is also significant, promoting social interaction, trust, and empathy in humans. As such, molecules that can access the central nervous system and target the oxytocin receptor are of significant interest. Due to the role of the oxytocin receptor in regulating social function and psychological well-being, agonists of this receptor have considerable promise for the treatment of numerous neuropsychiatric conditions. The poor pharmacokinetic properties and blood-brain barrier penetration of peptide-based molecules means nonpeptide compounds have more commonly been the focus for central nervous system activity. This chapter aims to summarize the current standing of peptide and nonpeptide drug discovery for antagonists and agonists of the oxytocin receptor and focusses on centrally active nonpeptidic agonists.

Early Improvement of Psychiatric Symptoms with Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Predicts Subsequent Social Functional Remission in Patients with Schizophrenia

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to clarify whether early symptomatic improvement in response to a long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) contributes to subsequent social functional remission in patients with schizophrenia using the previous clinical trial data (EudraCT registration number: 2011-004889-15). Associations between other factors and social functional remission were also explored.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed 428 patients with schizophrenia in which the personal and social performance scale (PSP) and the involvement evaluation questionnaire (IEQ) at the time of the base line were recorded. Social functional remission was defined as participants who scored PSP >70 at the end of 65 weeks. Logistic regression analyses were done to examine associations between social functional remission and clinical and demographic characteristics including early symptomatic response evaluated by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at week one.

RESULTS

One hundred out of 428 patients showed social functional remission at the end of the observation period. Shorter duration of illness, higher baseline score of supervision evaluated by IEQ and higher baseline PSP were significantly associated with the social functional remission. Improvement of positive subscale of PANSS at one week was significantly associated with later social functional remission when baseline PSP scores were excluded from predictive variables.

CONCLUSION

Shorter duration of illness, residual type of schizophrenia, higher baseline score of supervision and higher baseline social functioning were predictors of subsequent social functional remission. Although its effect seems to be limited, early symptomatic improvement could be also was a predictor of social functional remission.