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Frau F, Cerami C, Dodich A, Bosia M, Bambini V. Weighing the role of social cognition and executive functioning in pragmatics in the schizophrenia spectrum: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Lang 2024; 252:105403. [PMID: 38593743 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2024.105403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Pragmatic impairment is diffused in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but the literature still debates its neurocognitive underpinnings. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the neurocognitive correlates of pragmatic disorders in schizophrenia and determine the weight of social cognition and executive functioning on such disorders. Of the 2,668 records retrieved from the literature, 16 papers were included in the systematic review, mostly focused on non-literal meanings and discourse production in schizophrenia. Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis: pragmatics was moderately associated with both social cognition and executive functions (especially inhibition), but the link with social cognition was stronger. The mediation analysis showed that social cognition mediated the relationship between executive functions and pragmatics. Based on this, we proposed a hierarchical neurocognitive model where pragmatics stems from social cognition, while executive functions are the fertile ground supporting the other two domains, and we discuss its theoretical and clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Frau
- Laboratory of Neurolinguistics and Experimental Pragmatics (NEP), Department of Humanities and Life Sciences, University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Chiara Cerami
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy; Dementia Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Dodich
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences-CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Marta Bosia
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Schizophrenia Research and Clinical Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Bambini
- Laboratory of Neurolinguistics and Experimental Pragmatics (NEP), Department of Humanities and Life Sciences, University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
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Adamczyk P, Biczak J, Kotlarska K, Daren A, Cichocki Ł. On the specificity of figurative language comprehension impairment in schizophrenia and its relation to cognitive skills but not psychopathological symptoms - Study on metaphor, humor and irony. Schizophr Res Cogn 2024; 35:100294. [PMID: 37928747 PMCID: PMC10624582 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2023.100294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
People with schizophrenia have difficulty understanding figurative expressions, such as metaphors, humor or irony. The present study investigated the specificity of figurative language impairment in schizophrenia and its relation with cognitive and psychotic symptoms. It included 54 schizophrenia and 54 age and sex-matched healthy subjects who performed a cognitive screening (ACE-III) and figurative language comprehension task consisting of 60 short stories with three types of endings: a figurative one and its literal and an absurd (meaningless) counterparts. Each figurative domain - metaphor, humor, irony - was split into two sub-domains, i.e., conventional and novel metaphors, intended-to-be-funny and social-norm-violation jokes, simple irony and critical sarcasm, respectively. The main findings are: i) in schizophrenia, figurative language deficit manifests itself in each domain; ii) the most pronounced subdomain-specific impairment has been found for novel vs conventional metaphors and irony vs sarcasm; iii) altered figurative language comprehension was related to diminished cognitive abilities but not to psychopathology symptoms (PANSS) or other clinical characteristics. This may suggest that figurative language impairment, as a specific part of communication deficit, may be regarded as an essential characteristic of schizophrenia, related to primary cognitive deficits but independent of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Artur Daren
- Faculty of Psychology, Pedagogy, and Humanities, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Łukasz Cichocki
- Babinski Clinical Hospital, Krakow, Poland
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Krakow, Poland
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3
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Ouerchefani R, Ouerchefani N, Ben Rejeb MR, Le Gall D. Pragmatic language comprehension: Role of theory of mind, executive functions, and the prefrontal cortex. Neuropsychologia 2024; 194:108756. [PMID: 38103682 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The specific contribution of focal damage of the prefrontal cortex and the cognitive mechanisms accounting for communicative-pragmatic disorders remains unclear. The objective of the current study was to investigate the impact of focal prefrontal cortex damage on the ability to understand indirect speech or hints and to identify the prefrontal neural mechanisms involved. We also examined the underlying cognitive mechanisms of disorders of indirect speech understanding particularly theory of mind and executive functions. Thirty patients with focal prefrontal cortex damage and 30 control subjects were compared on their performances on the Hinting task assessing pragmatic language skills, the "Faux-Pas" task and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes task assessing Theory of Mind and a battery of executive tasks. Patients were significantly impaired compared with control subjects on all these abilities. Both deficits of executive functions and theory of mind were able to predict impaired ability of patients in understanding non-literal meanings on the Hinting task. Finally, using voxel-based lesion analysis we identified a partially shared neural prefrontal network involved in all these abilities centered on the dorsomedial and ventral regions of the prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riadh Ouerchefani
- University of Tunis El Manar, High Institute of Human Sciences, Department of Psychology, 26 Boulevard Darghouth Pacha, Tunis, Tunisia; Univ Angers, Université de Nantes, LPPL, SFR Confluences, F-49000 Angers, France.
| | - Naoufel Ouerchefani
- Department of Neurosurgery, Foch Hospital, 40 Rue Worth, 92151 Suresnes, Paris, France.
| | - Mohamed Riadh Ben Rejeb
- University of Tunis I, Faculty of Human and Social Science of Tunisia, Department of Psychology, Boulevard 9 Avril, C.P. 1007, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Didier Le Gall
- Univ Angers, Université de Nantes, LPPL, SFR Confluences, F-49000 Angers, France.
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Yeung EKL, Apperly IA, Devine RT. Measures of individual differences in adult theory of mind: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 157:105481. [PMID: 38036161 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Theory of mind (ToM), the ability to understand and reason about mental states, has been extensively studied in young children and clinical populations. A growing interest in examining ToM in adults has emerged over the past two decades, but the extent to which existing measures are suitable for studying adults, especially in detecting individual differences, remains understudied. In this systematic review of 273 studies, 75 measures used to investigate individual differences in adults' ToM were identified. Their sensitivity to individual differences, reliability, and validity were examined. Results suggest that ceiling effects were prevalent, and there was limited evidence to establish the reliability or validity of these measures due to the lack of reports of psychometric properties. Interrelations among measures were inconsistent. These findings highlight the need for future empirical and theoretical work to broaden the evidence base regarding psychometric properties of measures, to develop new measures, and to lay out more specific hypotheses about the relevance of ToM for different social outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Kit Ling Yeung
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
| | - Ian A Apperly
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Rory T Devine
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
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Felsenheimer A, Rapp AM. Proverb comprehension in schizophrenia: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Compr Psychiatry 2024; 129:152444. [PMID: 38141588 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Examination of proverb comprehension has a long tradition in clinical diagnostics of individuals with schizophrenia (iSCZ). Deficits in the comprehension are considered common. Interpretations of proverbs are traditionally measured by their degree of abstraction and concreteness ('literalness'), but iSCZ's responses may also be illogical or 'bizarre'. Experimental research on proverb comprehension starts in the 1940s. Since then, the specificity of proverb tests has often been questioned, but has never been the subject of a meta-analysis. The aim of this meta-analysis is to include all experimental research, including historical studies, that meets quality criteria and compares the responses to proverbs in iSCZ with those in healthy controls (HC) or clinical controls (CC). METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo databases were searched. After coding 121 articles, 27 (median publication year 1982) were included and multi-level meta-analyses performed. Moderator analyses were performed on response format (multiple-choice vs. verbal responses), proverb test, scoring method, language, acute vs. chronic stage of iSCZ, time of publication, clinical vs. healthy control group, age, IQ/education, and gender. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots, trim and fill method and Egger's test. RESULTS The search identified 27 eligible studies for inclusion. Studies were published between 1956 and 2020 and predominantly older than 30 years (median: 1982). The Gorham Proverbs Test was the most established test and predominantly conducted in English. CC mostly consisted of depressive disorders. Pooled estimates yielded statistically significant less abstract (g = -1.00; 95%CI, -1.34 to -1.67), more concrete (g = 0.69; 95%CI, 0.35-1.03), and more bizarre (g = 1.08; 95%CI, 0.74-1.41) responses in iSCZ compared to controls. The type of control group moderated all three effects, with greater differences of iSCZ compared to HC than to CC in abstraction and bizarreness, and no significant group difference between iSCZ and CC in concreteness. Meta-regressions indicated IQ/education and age as possible sources of variability in abstraction and bizarreness. CONCLUSIONS While lower abstraction and higher bizarreness seems a characteristic of iSCZ, the diagnostic specificity of a concrete response was astonishingly low. The lack of a unified definition for concretism and limited consideration of cultural diversity contributed to these complex findings. Future research should focus on exploring the qualitative aspects of proverb comprehension and the association between symptomatology types and misinterpretations to improve diagnostic accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Felsenheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 14, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; Max Planck School of Cognition, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexander M Rapp
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 14, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
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Thibaudeau E, Rae J, Raucher-Chéné D, Bougeard A, Lepage M. Disentangling the Relationships Between the Clinical Symptoms of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Theory of Mind: A Meta-analysis. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:255-274. [PMID: 36244001 PMCID: PMC10016420 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbac150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Previous studies have suggested links between clinical symptoms and theory of mind (ToM) impairments in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), but it remains unclear whether some symptoms are more strongly linked to ToM than others. STUDY DESIGN A meta-analysis (Prospero; CRD42021259723) was conducted to quantify and compare the strength of the associations between ToM and the clinical symptoms of SSD (Positive, Negative, Cognitive/Disorganization, Depression/Anxiety, Excitability/Hostility). Studies (N = 130, 137 samples) including people with SSD and reporting a correlation between clinical symptoms and ToM were retrieved from Pubmed, PsycNet, Embase, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Proquest, WorldCat, and Open Gray. Correlations for each dimension and each symptom were entered into a random-effect model using a Fisher's r-to-z transformation and were compared using focused-tests. Publication bias was assessed with the Rosenthal failsafe and by inspecting the funnel plot and the standardized residual histogram. STUDY RESULTS The Cognitive/Disorganization (Zr = 0.28) and Negative (Zr = 0.24) dimensions revealed a small to moderate association with ToM, which was significantly stronger than the other dimensions. Within the Cognitive/Disorganization dimension, Difficulty in abstract thinking (Zr = 0.36) and Conceptual disorganization (Zr = 0.39) showed the strongest associations with ToM. The association with the Positive dimension (Zr = 0.16) was small and significantly stronger than the relationship with Depression/Anxiety (Zr = 0.09). Stronger associations were observed between ToM and clinical symptoms in younger patients, those with an earlier age at onset of illness and for tasks assessing a combination of different mental states. CONCLUSIONS The relationships between Cognitive/Disorganization, Negative symptoms, and ToM should be considered in treating individuals with SSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Thibaudeau
- McGill University, Department of Psychiatry, Montreal, Canada
- Douglas Research Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jesse Rae
- Douglas Research Centre, Montreal, Canada
- McGill University, Department of Psychology, Montreal, Canada
| | - Delphine Raucher-Chéné
- McGill University, Department of Psychiatry, Montreal, Canada
- Douglas Research Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Cognition, Health, and Society Laboratory (EA 6291), University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
- Academic Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Reims, EPSM Marne, Reims, France
| | | | - Martin Lepage
- McGill University, Department of Psychiatry, Montreal, Canada
- Douglas Research Centre, Montreal, Canada
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Vass E, Simon V, Csukly G, Kis B, Zsigmond R, Hermán L, Simon L. The complexity of theory of mind deficit in schizophrenia: A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a longitudinal schizophrenia study. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2023; 233:103842. [PMID: 36701860 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.103842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A large number of trials have supported the functional significance of Theory of Mind (ToM) impairment in schizophrenia. However, the nature and the extent of the impairment are still unclear. Reviews on the topic suggest that, in many cases, studies use only one tool to assess the levels of difficulty in the field, limiting the validity of the measurement to one aspect of ToM. On the other hand, the divergence of the used assessment tools makes it hard to compare the result of these studies. Thus, we decided to use additional assessment tools to evaluate the extent of ToM in order to describe several aspects of the phenomenon. A hierarchical cluster analysis of variables was used on a sample of 68 participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, to determine the similarity between variances of the assessed ToM subcomponents. Further cross-sectional correlational analysis was then performed to investigate the association between the identified clusters and other used measures (e.g.: neurocognition). The statistical analysis supported a five-cluster model. Identified clusters illustrate the difference between Hypo and HyperToM as well as the degree of ToM task complexity, allowing for a more accurate description of the nature of ToM deficit in schizophrenia.
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Rocca P, Rucci P, Montemagni C, Rossi A, Bertolino A, Aguglia E, Altamura CA, Amore M, Andriola I, Bellomo A, Brasso C, Carpiniello B, Del Favero E, Dell'Osso L, Di Fabio F, Fabrazzo M, Fagiolini A, Giordano GM, Marchesi C, Martinotti G, Monteleone P, Pompili M, Roncone R, Rossi R, Siracusano A, Tenconi E, Vita A, Zeppegno P, Galderisi S, Maj M. Does social cognition change? Evidence after 4 years from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses. Eur Psychiatry 2023; 66:e10. [PMID: 36628577 PMCID: PMC9970151 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficits in social cognition (SC) are significantly related to community functioning in schizophrenia (SZ). Few studies investigated longitudinal changes in SC and its impact on recovery. In the present study, we aimed: (a) to estimate the magnitude and clinical significance of SC change in outpatients with stable SZ who were assessed at baseline and after 4 years, (b) to identify predictors of reliable and clinically significant change (RCSC), and (c) to determine whether changes in SC over 4 years predicted patient recovery at follow-up. METHODS The reliable change index was used to estimate the proportion of true change in SC, not attributable to measurement error. Stepwise multiple logistic regression models were used to identify the predictors of RCSC in a SC domain (The Awareness of Social Inference Test [TASIT]) and the effect of change in TASIT on recovery at follow-up. RESULTS In 548 participants, statistically significant improvements were found for the simple and paradoxical sarcasm of TASIT scale, and for the total score of section 2. The reliable change index was 9.8. A cut-off of 45 identified patients showing clinically significant change. Reliable change was achieved by 12.6% and RCSC by 8% of participants. Lower baseline TASIT sect. 2 score predicted reliable improvement on TASIT sect. 2. Improvement in TASIT sect. 2 scores predicted functional recovery, with a 10-point change predicting 40% increase in the probability of recovery. CONCLUSIONS The RCSC index provides a conservative way to assess the improvement in the ability to grasp sarcasm in SZ, and is associated with recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rocca
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Rucci
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristiana Montemagni
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Eugenio Aguglia
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Mario Amore
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ileana Andriola
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Claudio Brasso
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Bernardo Carpiniello
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Elisa Del Favero
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Liliana Dell'Osso
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Di Fabio
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Fabrazzo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Fagiolini
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Clinical Department of Mental Health, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Marchesi
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Palmiero Monteleone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", Section of Neuroscience, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, S. Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Roncone
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Alberto Siracusano
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Tenconi
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Antonio Vita
- Psychiatric Unit, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Zeppegno
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Silvana Galderisi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Maj
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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Chakrabarty M, Bhattacharya K, Chatterjee G, Biswas A, Ghosal M. Pragmatic deficits in patients with schizophrenia and right hemisphere damage: A pilot study. Int J Lang Commun Disord 2023; 58:169-188. [PMID: 36073996 DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.12778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While pragmatic deficits are well documented in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and right hemisphere damage (RHD), there is a paucity of research comparing the pragmatic deficits of these two groups. Do they experience similar cognitive dysfunction or is there a dissociation between the two patient groups? AIMS To investigate the nature of pragmatic deficits in these two groups and to gain an understanding of the underlying cognitive mechanisms that might be associated with these deficits to further future investigations. METHODS & PROCEDURES A total of 60 participants (15 patients with SCZ; 15 with RHD; 30 (15 + 15) healthy controls (HC) were administered the Bengali Audio-Visual Test-Battery for Assessment of Pragmatic Skills. OUTCOMES & RESULTS Both SCZ and RHD patients were found to have significant pragmatic deficits compared with their matched controls. SCZ patients were found to score significantly better than the RHD group in six out of the 10 pragmatic skills when controlled for age and education. Discriminant function analysis was performed and 86.7% of the cases (HC = 100%, SCZ = 73.3% and RHD = 86.7%) were correctly reclassified into their original categories using the test scores. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS The study suggests that there is heterogeneity in the nature of the pragmatic breakdown within and across patient groups. Therefore, individualized restorative measures targeting the disrupted cognitive mechanism(s) might help elevate pragmatic competence and enhance the social functioning of patients with pragmatic deficits. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject Pragmatic deficits are common in adults with cognitive impairments of different etiologies. However, few studies have explored pragmatic deficits across clinical populations. Consequently, very little is known about the nature of pragmatic deficits in patients with schizophrenia and right hemisphere damage. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This work offers preliminary data on pragmatic difficulties in patients with schizophrenia and right hemisphere damage. This study overrides the boundaries of traditional classifications and evaluates pragmatic difficulties in these two clinical populations with reference to the underlying cognitive mechanisms, which might be disrupted. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? The study adds a transdiagnostic perspective suggesting that there might be heterogeneity in pragmatic deficits, both within and across patient groups, and stresses the need for individualized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Garga Chatterjee
- Psychology Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Atanu Biswas
- Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, IPGME&R, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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10
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Chang X, Zhao W, Kang J, Xiang S, Xie C, Corona-Hernández H, Palaniyappan L, Feng J. Language abnormalities in schizophrenia: binding core symptoms through contemporary empirical evidence. Schizophrenia (Heidelb) 2022; 8:95. [PMID: 36371445 PMCID: PMC9653408 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-022-00308-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Both the ability to speak and to infer complex linguistic messages from sounds have been claimed as uniquely human phenomena. In schizophrenia, formal thought disorder (FTD) and auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are manifestations respectively relating to concrete disruptions of those abilities. From an evolutionary perspective, Crow (1997) proposed that "schizophrenia is the price that Homo sapiens pays for the faculty of language". Epidemiological and experimental evidence points to an overlap between FTD and AVHs, yet a thorough investigation examining their shared neural mechanism in schizophrenia is lacking. In this review, we synthesize observations from three key domains. First, neuroanatomical evidence indicates substantial shared abnormalities in language-processing regions between FTD and AVHs, even in the early phases of schizophrenia. Second, neurochemical studies point to a glutamate-related dysfunction in these language-processing brain regions, contributing to verbal production deficits. Third, genetic findings further show how genes that overlap between schizophrenia and language disorders influence neurodevelopment and neurotransmission. We argue that these observations converge into the possibility that a glutamatergic dysfunction in language-processing brain regions might be a shared neural basis of both FTD and AVHs. Investigations of language pathology in schizophrenia could facilitate the development of diagnostic tools and treatments, so we call for multilevel confirmatory analyses focused on modulations of the language network as a therapeutic goal in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- MOE-LCSM, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, PR China
| | - Jujiao Kang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shitong Xiang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Xie
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Hugo Corona-Hernández
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Jianfeng Feng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
- MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
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11
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Camia M, Benassi E, Giovagnoli S, Scorza M. Specific learning disorders in young adults: Investigating pragmatic abilities and their relationship with theory of mind, executive functions and quality of life. Res Dev Disabil 2022; 126:104253. [PMID: 35526492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are lifelong conditions often associated with language difficulties, executive dysfunctions, and psychological problems. Previous research has shown that communicative-pragmatic ability may be impaired in SLD. However, the role of other cognitive abilities in explaining pragmatic difficulties has still not been fully investigated. The relationship between pragmatics and quality of life is not yet clear, as well. AIMS Firstly, the study assessed pragmatic comprehension abilities in adults with SLD. Secondly, we examined the relationship between pragmatics, theory of mind, executive functions and quality of life. METHOD AND PROCEDURES We enrolled 26 adults with SLD and 30 adults without SLD. Standardized tests assessing pragmatic comprehension, theory of mind and executive functions were used. The quality of life was investigated with a self-reported questionnaire. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Pragmatic comprehension abilities were compromised in young adults with SLD. In this clinical population we also found a link between pragmatic comprehension and visual theory of mind. Finally, independently from the presence of SLD, pragmatics abilities were in relationship with quality of life. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Overall, these data highlight the importance of including pragmatic abilities both in the clinical evaluation, as well as in psychological intervention for adults with SLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Camia
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Campus San Lazzaro, Via Amendola 2, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
| | - Erika Benassi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Campus San Lazzaro, Via Amendola 2, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
| | - Sara Giovagnoli
- Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Maristella Scorza
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Campus San Lazzaro, Via Amendola 2, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
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12
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Riccardi C, Montemagni C, Del Favero E, Bellino S, Brasso C, Rocca P. Pharmacological Treatment for Social Cognition: Current Evidence. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7457. [PMID: 34299076 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is currently considered a core feature of schizophrenia (SZ) and is gaining attention as a fundamental therapeutic target. Standard treatment for SZ involves the use of antipsychotics that are successfully used to control positive symptoms and disorganized behaviour. However, it is still unclear whether they are effective on social cognition (SC) impairment. Furthermore, different medications are currently being studied to improve SC in patients with SZ. A literature search on this topic was conducted using the PubMed database. All kinds of publications (i.e., reviews, original contributions and case reports) written in English and published in the last 15 years were included. The aim of our literature review is to draw a picture of the current state of the pharmacological treatment of SC impairment in SZ.
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13
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Ucok A, Karakaş B, Şahin OŞ. Formal thought disorder in patients with first-episode schizophrenia: Results of a one-year follow-up study. Psychiatry Res 2021; 301:113972. [PMID: 33979765 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Formal thought disorder (FTD) refers to abnormal speech patterns that can be characterized by deficiencies in thought organization and direction. The present study aimed to assess the factor structure of FTD and to examine its relationship with cognition and clinical features at first admission in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. We also examined the course of FTD during the twelve months after first admission. We assessed FTD using the alogia items of the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and FTD items of the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms in 160 drug-naïve patients. A three-factor structure as a disorganization factor, poverty factor, and verbosity factor were found in principal component analysis. The poverty factor was correlated negatively with executive functions, attention, and global cognition. The poverty factor was also correlated with global functioning. Admission FTD factor scores were not related to global functioning and work/study status at one year. The positive-FTD score decreased from admission to the third month, but no change occurred from the third to the twelfth month. The negative-FTD score did not differ throughout the follow-up. Our findings showed that FTD had three factors. Each factor had a different relationship with cognition and functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alp Ucok
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Begüm Karakaş
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Olcay Şenay Şahin
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
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14
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Parola A, Gabbatore I, Berardinelli L, Salvini R, Bosco FM. Multimodal assessment of communicative-pragmatic features in schizophrenia: a machine learning approach. NPJ Schizophr 2021; 7:28. [PMID: 34031425 PMCID: PMC8144364 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-021-00153-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
An impairment in pragmatic communication is a core feature of schizophrenia, often associated with difficulties in social interactions. The pragmatic deficits regard various pragmatic phenomena, e.g., direct and indirect communicative acts, deceit, irony, and include not only the use of language but also other expressive means such as non-verbal/extralinguistic modalities, e.g., gestures and body movements, and paralinguistic cues, e.g., prosody and tone of voice. The present paper focuses on the identification of those pragmatic features, i.e., communicative phenomena and expressive modalities, that more reliably discriminate between individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls. We performed a multimodal assessment of communicative-pragmatic ability, and applied a machine learning approach, specifically a Decision Tree model, with the aim of identifying the pragmatic features that best separate the data into the two groups, i.e., individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls, and represent their configuration. The results indicated good overall performance of the Decision Tree model, with mean Accuracy of 82%, Sensitivity of 76%, and Precision of 91%. Linguistic irony emerged as the most relevant pragmatic phenomenon in distinguishing between the two groups, followed by violation of the Gricean maxims, and then extralinguistic deceitful and sincere communicative acts. The results are discussed in light of the pragmatic theoretical literature, and their clinical relevance in terms of content and design of both assessment and rehabilitative training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Parola
- grid.7048.b0000 0001 1956 2722Department of Linguistics, Semiotics and Cognitive Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark ,grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ilaria Gabbatore
- grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Rogerio Salvini
- grid.411195.90000 0001 2192 5801Instituto de Informática, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO Brasil
| | - Francesca M. Bosco
- grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy ,grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Centro Interdipartimentale di Studi Avanzati di Neuroscienze–NIT, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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15
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Schaeken W, Van de Weyer L, De Hert M, Wampers M. The Role of Working Memory in the Processing of Scalar Implicatures of Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders. Front Psychol 2021; 12:635724. [PMID: 34025508 PMCID: PMC8134522 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A number of studies have demonstrated pragmatic language difficulties in people with Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders. However, research about how people with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders understand scalar implicatures (SIs) is surprisingly rare, since SIs have generated much of the most recent literature. Scalar implicatures are pragmatic inferences, based on linguistic expressions like some, must, or, which are part of a scale of informativeness (e.g., some/many/all). Logically, the less informative expressions imply the more informative ones, but pragmatically people usually infer that the presence of a less informative term implies that the more informative term was not applicable. In one of the few existing studies with people with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, Wampers et al. (2018) observed that in general, people with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders were less likely to derive SIs than controls. The current study has three main aims. First, we want to replicate the original finding with the scalar terms some-all. Second, we want to investigate how these patients deal with different scalar terms, that is, we want to investigate if scalar diversity is also observed in this clinical group. Third, we investigate the role of working memory, often seen as another important mechanism to enable inferring SIs. Twenty-one individuals with a psychotic disorder and 21 matched controls answered 54 under-informative statements, in which seven different pairs of scalar terms were used. In addition, working memory capacity was measured. Patients with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders did not make more logical interpretations when processing quantifiers, disconfirming Wampers et al. (2018). However, certain scalar scales elicited more pragmatic interpretations than others, which is in line with the scalar diversity hypothesis. Additionally, we observed only partial evidence for the role of working memory. Only for the scalar scale and-or, a significant effect of working memory was observed. The implications of these results for patients with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders are discussed, but also the role of working memory for pragmatic inferences, as well as the place of SIs in experimental pragmatics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Schaeken
- Brain and Cognition, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Linde Van de Weyer
- Brain and Cognition, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc De Hert
- University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Center for Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences Antwerp Health Law and Ethics Chair, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Judgments of emotion from faces are reportedly impaired in schizophrenia. However, it is unclear whether this is due to a top-down cognitive deficit in evaluating sensory information or a fundamental bottom-up perturbation in the early stages of face encoding. This study examined whether deficits in emotion processing reflect imprecision in the initial preconscious registration of emotional face expressions within the visual system. METHODS Using continuous flash suppression (CFS), we presented participants (18 patients with schizophrenia, 8M/10F; 20 healthy controls, 13M/7F) with fearful and angry faces. Previous CFS research on healthy participants reveals that fearful facial expressions gain privileged access to awareness over angry faces-demonstrating the visual system's ability to discriminate these emotions at a preconscious level. We used this same approach to probe the integrity of early emotion encoding whilst minimising the potential contribution of any top-down cognitive biases on perceptual judgments. RESULTS In both groups, fearful faces were perceived faster than angry faces, with no differences observed between patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS Emotion processing difficulties in schizophrenia are unlikely to reflect an early sensory deficit, but rather a deficit in social cognition that has a top-down impact on the conscious evaluation of facial expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Caruana
- Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.,Perception in Action Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kiley Seymour
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.,The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.,Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
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17
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Aunjitsakul W, Teetharatkul T, Vitayanont A, Liabsuetrakul T. Does the Psychiatrist's Use of Subjective Well-Being Measurement in People with Schizophrenia Provide a Better Alignment with the Patient's Well-Being Perception than Clinical Judgement Alone? Adm Policy Ment Health 2021; 48:768-79. [PMID: 33728557 DOI: 10.1007/s10488-021-01127-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
To examine the agreement between patient and psychiatrist ratings of subjective well-being in people with schizophrenia using three well-being measurements: Satisfaction with Life, Subjective Happiness, and Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic Treatment (SWN), including the SWN-subscale, and to investigate whether the psychiatrist's judgement or the psychiatrist-rated SWN is better at defining patient well-being. Patients with schizophrenia (n = 150) completed the three well-being measurements, then met psychiatrists, and their well-being was judged as either 'poor' or 'adequate' via the usual clinical assessment before being assessed again by the psychiatrist using the same measurements. Intra-class correlation was used to analyze the absolute agreement between 'patient-rated' and 'psychiatrist-rated' scores. Agreements on 'adequate' well-being status between patient-rated SWN (≥ 80; gold standard), psychiatrist-rated SWN, and psychiatrist's judgement were calculated using Kappa coefficients. We also calculated the sensitivity and specificity of the psychiatrist's judgement and the psychiatrist-rated SWN to define adequate well-being. SWN showed the strongest absolute agreement between patient-psychiatrist ratings (ICC = 0.7, p = 0.005), with physical functioning yielding the highest and self-control the lowest coefficients. The psychiatrist-rated SWN showed a better Kappa coefficient (0.4, p < 0.001) than the psychiatrist's judgement. Clinical judgement showed a 67% sensitivity and a 64% specificity, whereas the psychiatrist-rated SWN (score 93, AUC 81.4%) showed a 74% sensitivity and a 74% specificity for well-being prediction. The use of SWN by psychiatrists yielded a better alignment of well-being than the psychiatrist's judgement alone. The SWN subscale could help fill the gap between clinician and patient views on well-being. Psychiatrists should upskill in assessing patient wellbeing for appropriate treatment provision.
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18
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Parola A, Brasso C, Morese R, Rocca P, Bosco FM. Understanding communicative intentions in schizophrenia using an error analysis approach. NPJ Schizophr 2021; 7:12. [PMID: 33637736 PMCID: PMC7910544 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-021-00142-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) have a core impairment in the communicative-pragmatic domain, characterized by severe difficulties in correctly inferring the speaker's communicative intentions. While several studies have investigated pragmatic performance of patients with SCZ, little research has analyzed the errors committed in the comprehension of different communicative acts. The present research investigated error patterns in 24 patients with SCZ and 24 healthy controls (HC) during a task assessing the comprehension of different communicative acts, i.e., sincere, deceitful and ironic, and their relationship with the clinical features of SCZ. We used signal detection analysis to quantify participants' ability to correctly detect the speakers' communicative intention, i.e., sensitivity, and their tendency to wrongly perceive a communicative intention when not present, i.e., response bias. Further, we investigated the relationship between sensitivity and response bias, and the clinical features of the disorder, namely symptom severity, pharmacotherapy, and personal and social functioning. The results showed that the ability to infer the speaker's communicative intention is impaired in SCZ, as patients exhibited lower sensitivity, compared to HC, for all the pragmatic phenomena evaluated, i.e., sincere, deceitful, and ironic communicative acts. Further, we found that the sensitivity measure for irony was related to disorganized/concrete symptoms. Moreover, patients with SCZ showed a stronger response bias for deceitful communicative acts compared to HC: when committing errors, they tended to misattribute deceitful intentions more often than sincere and ironic ones. This tendency to misattribute deceitful communicative intentions may be related to the attributional bias characterizing the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Parola
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italia
| | - Claudio Brasso
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze "Rita Levi Montalcini", Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italia.
| | - Rosalba Morese
- Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
- Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Paola Rocca
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze "Rita Levi Montalcini", Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italia
| | - Francesca M Bosco
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italia
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Van't Hooft JJ, Pijnenburg YAL, Sikkes SAM, Scheltens P, Spikman JM, Jaschke AC, Warren JD, Tijms BM. Frontotemporal dementia, music perception and social cognition share neurobiological circuits: A meta-analysis. Brain Cogn 2021; 148:105660. [PMID: 33421942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease that presents with profound changes in social cognition. Music might be a sensitive probe for social cognition abilities, but underlying neurobiological substrates are unclear. We performed a meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry studies in FTD patients and functional MRI studies for music perception and social cognition tasks in cognitively normal controls to identify robust patterns of atrophy (FTD) or activation (music perception or social cognition). Conjunction analyses were performed to identify overlapping brain regions. In total 303 articles were included: 53 for FTD (n = 1153 patients, 42.5% female; 1337 controls, 53.8% female), 28 for music perception (n = 540, 51.8% female) and 222 for social cognition in controls (n = 5664, 50.2% female). We observed considerable overlap in atrophy patterns associated with FTD, and functional activation associated with music perception and social cognition, mostly encompassing the ventral language network. We further observed overlap across all three modalities in mesolimbic, basal forebrain and striatal regions. The results of our meta-analysis suggest that music perception and social cognition share neurobiological circuits that are affected in FTD. This supports the idea that music might be a sensitive probe for social cognition abilities with implications for diagnosis and monitoring.
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20
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de Leede-Smith S, Roodenrys S, Horsley L, Matrini S, Mison E, Barkus E. Role for Positive Schizotypy and Hallucination Proneness in Semantic Processing. Front Psychol 2020; 11:542002. [PMID: 32982899 PMCID: PMC7492677 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.542002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Semantic processing underpins the organization of verbal information for both storage and retrieval. Deficits in semantic processing are associated with both the risk for and symptoms presented in schizophrenia. However, studies are mixed and could reflect the confounding effects of medication and symptom heterogeneity. Therefore, we considered whether two risk phenotypes, positive schizotypy and hallucinatory predisposition, present in the general population were associated with differential responding profiles for a semantic processing task. One hundred and eighty-three participants completed the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale, National Adult Reading Test, a handedness measure, and a computerized semantic relatedness judgment task. Pairs of words were related through their dominant or subordinate meanings, or unrelated. Participants were divided into four groups using a mean split on cognitive-perceptual (positive) schizotypy and hallucination proneness. Significant differences between groups were found for reaction time on the semantic relatedness task, with the high cognitive-perceptual schizotypy groups responding significantly slower to all word pairs compared to their low scoring counterparts. There was some evidence that high hallucination proneness was associated with significantly faster reaction times which may reflect disinhibitive processes, however additional support is required. The results suggest that these two components of psychosis risk are associated with different patterns of responding to semantic processing. More diffuse activation of semantic information appeared to be associated with positive schizotypy, while those predisposed to hallucinations appeared to respond quicker. These results have significant implications in the re-conceptualization of hallucination proneness as distinct from positive schizotypy. Additional research is required to investigate the association between psychotic-like experiences separate from personality variables such as positive schizotypy and semantic processing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven Roodenrys
- Cognitive Basis of Atypical Behaviour Initiative (CBABi), School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Lauren Horsley
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Shannen Matrini
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Erin Mison
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma Barkus
- Cognitive Basis of Atypical Behaviour Initiative (CBABi), School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,School of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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21
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Arnon-Ribenfeld N, Hasson-Ohayon I, Lavidor M, Atzil-Slonim D, Lysaker P. The association between metacognitive abilities and outcome measures among people with schizophrenia: A meta-analysis. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 46:33-41. [PMID: 28992534 DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractBackground:Deficits in metacognition are one of the major causes of the difficulties experienced by individuals with schizophrenia. Studies have linked these deficits to symptom exacerbation and deterioration in psychosocial functioning. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to examine the extensive existing literature regarding metacognitive deficits among persons with schizophrenia; a further aim was to assess the extent to which metacognitive abilities are linked to outcome measures of symptoms and psychosocial functioning.Method:We conducted a systematic literature search of studies examining the relationship between metacognitive abilities and outcome measures among people with schizophrenia. We then analyzed the data using a random-effects meta-analytic model with Cohen's d standardized mean effect size.Results:Heterogeneity analyses (k = 32, Cohen's d = −.12, 95% CI.−1.92 to 1.7) produced a significant Q-statistic (Q = 456.89) and a high amount of heterogeneity, as indicated by the I2 statistic (93.04%), suggesting that moderator analyses were appropriate. As hypothesized, measure type moderated the metacognitive deficit with homogenous effect for psychosocial functioning measures (Q = 9.81, I2 = 19.47%, d = .94. 95% CI .58 to 1.2) and symptoms (Q = 19.87, I2 = 0%, d = −1.07, 95% CI −1.18 to −.75). Further analysis found homogenous effects for MAS-A subscales as well as PANSS factors of symptoms.Conclusion:Our meta-analysis results illustrated a significant association between metacognitive deficits and both symptomatic and psychosocial functioning measures. These links suggest that the associations between metacognitive abilities and symptomatic outcomes are different from those between metacognitive abilities and psychosocial functioning measures. Intriguing hypotheses are raised regarding the role that metacognitive abilities play in both symptoms and psychosocial functioning measures of people diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
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Parola A, Salvini R, Gabbatore I, Colle L, Berardinelli L, Bosco FM. Pragmatics, Theory of Mind and executive functions in schizophrenia: Disentangling the puzzle using machine learning. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229603. [PMID: 32126068 PMCID: PMC7053733 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Schizophrenia is associated with a severe impairment in the communicative-pragmatic domain. Recent research has tried to disentangle the relationship between communicative impairment and other domains usually impaired in schizophrenia, i.e. Theory of Mind (ToM) and cognitive functions. However, the results are inconclusive and this relationship is still unclear. Machine learning (ML) provides novel opportunities for studying complex relationships among phenomena and representing causality among multiple variables. The present research explored the potential of applying ML, specifically Bayesian network (BNs) analysis, to characterize the relationship between cognitive, ToM and pragmatic abilities in individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls, and to identify the cognitive and pragmatic abilities that are most informative in discriminating between schizophrenia and controls. METHODS We provided a comprehensive assessment of different aspects of pragmatic performance, i.e. linguistic, extralinguistic, paralinguistic, contextual and conversational, ToM and cognitive functions, i.e. Executive Functions (EF)-selective attention, planning, inhibition, cognitive flexibility, working memory and speed processing-and general intelligence, in a sample of 32 individuals with schizophrenia and 35 controls. RESULTS The results showed that the BNs classifier discriminated well between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. The network structure revealed that only pragmatic Linguistic ability directly influenced the classification of patients and controls, while diagnosis determined performance on ToM, Extralinguistic, Paralinguistic, Selective Attention, Planning, Inhibition and Cognitive Flexibility tasks. The model identified pragmatic, ToM and cognitive abilities as three distinct domains independent of one another. CONCLUSION Taken together, our results confirmed the importance of considering pragmatic linguistic impairment as a core dysfunction in schizophrenia, and demonstrated the potential of applying BNs in investigating the relationship between pragmatic ability and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Parola
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Rogerio Salvini
- Instituto de Informática, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brasil
| | | | - Livia Colle
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Francesca M. Bosco
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Institute of Neurosciences of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Thibaudeau É, Achim AM, Parent C, Turcotte M, Cellard C. A meta-analysis of the associations between theory of mind and neurocognition in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2020; 216:118-128. [PMID: 31899095 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Theory of mind (ToM) refers to the ability to infer the mental states of others. ToM is impaired in schizophrenia and these deficits seem to hinder functional recovery. ToM is thus an important, but complex treatment target, supported by several processes. A large number of studies report significant associations between ToM and neurocognition (e.g. memory, attention), but the neurocognitive domains that are most closely linked to ToM remain to be identified. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the magnitude of the associations between ToM and neurocognition in people with schizophrenia. Correlations were extracted from the relevant literature, transformed into effect sizes Zr and pooled as weighted means. Focused-tests were employed to test for differences between neurocognitive domains and for differences linked to the characteristics of ToM tasks. Ninety-one studies (N = 5462) were included. Moderate associations emerged between ToM and each neurocognitive domain (Zrs 0.27-0.43), with no significant difference between domains (χ2(8) = 11.89, p = 0.156). Within the domain of executive functions, abstraction showed a stronger association with ToM (χ2(4) = 18.93, p = 0.001). Several ToM tasks characteristics (e.g. modality of stimuli, type of mental state), were significantly related to the magnitude of the associations between ToM and executive functions, visuospatial/problem solving, attention and episodic memory. These results suggest that ToM is linked to a wide range of neurocognitive abilities in schizophrenia, and that ToM tasks are a significant moderator of these associations. The assessment and treatment of ToM should consider the neurocognitive profile of each patient to understand his difficulties and to tailor interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élisabeth Thibaudeau
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (CIUSSS-CN), 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, G1J 2G3 Québec, Québec, Canada; École de psychologie, Université Laval, Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, 2325 Allée des Bibliothèques, G1V 0A6 Québec, Québec, Canada.
| | - Amélie M Achim
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (CIUSSS-CN), 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, G1J 2G3 Québec, Québec, Canada; Département de psychiatrie et neurosciences, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, local 4873, G1V 0A6 Québec, Québec, Canada.
| | - Carolane Parent
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (CIUSSS-CN), 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, G1J 2G3 Québec, Québec, Canada; Département de psychiatrie et neurosciences, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, local 4873, G1V 0A6 Québec, Québec, Canada.
| | - Mélissa Turcotte
- École de psychologie, Université Laval, Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, 2325 Allée des Bibliothèques, G1V 0A6 Québec, Québec, Canada.
| | - Caroline Cellard
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (CIUSSS-CN), 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, G1J 2G3 Québec, Québec, Canada; École de psychologie, Université Laval, Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, 2325 Allée des Bibliothèques, G1V 0A6 Québec, Québec, Canada.
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Bambini V, Arcara G, Bosinelli F, Buonocore M, Bechi M, Cavallaro R, Bosia M. A leopard cannot change its spots: A novel pragmatic account of concretism in schizophrenia. Neuropsychologia 2020; 139:107332. [PMID: 31923528 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Concretism is a well-known feature of schizophrenia, tracing back to the early descriptions of the disease and commonly associated with the literal interpretation of figurative expressions such as proverbs, metaphors, and idioms. However, figurative expressions are not all alike in terms of linguistic and pragmatic processes. Determining if some figurative types are more impaired than others and if the type of task affects the performance constitutes an open issue with implications for the description of the clinical profile and for treatment. We run a fine-grained assessment of figurative language comprehension by comparing 47 patients with schizophrenia and 39 controls in three figurative types (idioms, metaphors, proverbs) presented in two response formats (multiple-choice, verbal-explanation), considering also the role of cognitive and clinical variables and the impact on quality of life. Mixed-effects models analysis revealed that: i) patients performed worse than controls across figurative types and response formats, indicating a diffuse impairment; ii) there is an interplay of figurative type and response format, which makes verbal-explanation of proverbs especially challenging; iii) in patients, problems in figurative language are largely connected with formal thought disorder and global IQ. Moreover, multiple-choice of metaphors was associated with patients' quality of life. This study offers a novel account of concretism, framed in pragmatics and figurative language processing. Adopting this perspective allowed us to describe the nuances of concretism, which areas in the figurative domain are especially challenging for patients and which ones capture differences in functioning, in order to guide intervention programs and integration in society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Bambini
- Center for Neurocognition, Epistemology and Theoretical Syntax (NEtS), University School for Advanced Studies IUSS Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | | | - Francesca Bosinelli
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Buonocore
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Bechi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Cavallaro
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Bosia
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Powell JL, Furlong J, de Bézenac CE, O'Sullivan N, Corcoran R. The Pragmatics of Pragmatic Language and the Curse of Ambiguity: An fMRI Study. Neuroscience 2019; 418:96-109. [PMID: 31473276 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In pragmatic language, there is an intentional distinction between the literal meaning of what is said, and what the speaker actually means. Previous neuroimaging investigations of pragmatic language have contrasted it with literal language; however, such contrasts may have been confounded by the higher levels of ambiguity in pragmatic language. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare pragmatic sentences (specifically requiring the interpretation of nonliteral meaning in the form of hints) with unintentionally ambiguous scenarios. Analysis showed that ambiguous language activated brain areas recognized to play a role in generating a theory of mind (ToM) that have previously been argued to support understanding of pragmatic language, specifically medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and temporoparietal junction (TPJ). In contrast, the pragmatic scenarios drew on anterior temporal, superior parietal lobule, in addition to precuneus. While no effect of gender was found for unintentionally ambiguous stimuli, females showed greater activity than males within mPFC and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) for pragmatic scenarios - regions thought to be involved in cognitive and affective empathy, respectively. Findings suggest that while areas underpinning ToM are sufficient to support meaning derivation in the context of ambiguity, reasoning about pragmatic intent is more reliant on access to self-referential memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne L Powell
- Department of Psychology, Edge Hill University/, UK; Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool/, UK; Liverpool Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre (LiMRIC), University of Liverpool/, UK.
| | - Joe Furlong
- Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool/, UK; Liverpool Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre (LiMRIC), University of Liverpool/, UK
| | - Christophe E de Bézenac
- Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool/, UK; Liverpool Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre (LiMRIC), University of Liverpool/, UK
| | | | - Rhiannon Corcoran
- Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool/, UK; Liverpool Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre (LiMRIC), University of Liverpool/, UK
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Deamer F, Palmer E, Vuong QC, Ferrier N, Finkelmeyer A, Hinzen W, Watson S. Non-literal understanding and psychosis: Metaphor comprehension in individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res Cogn 2019; 18:100159. [PMID: 31497512 PMCID: PMC6718052 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2019.100159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies suggest that understanding of non-literal expressions, and in particular metaphors, can be impaired in people with schizophrenia; although it is not clear why. We explored metaphor comprehension capacity using a novel picture selection paradigm; we compared task performance between people with schizophrenia and healthy comparator subjects and we further examined the relationships between the ability to interpret figurative expressions non-literally and performance on a number of other cognitive tasks. Eye-tracking was used to examine task strategy. We showed that even when IQ, years of education, and capacities for theory of mind and associative learning are factored in as covariates, patients are significantly more likely to interpret metaphorical expressions literally, despite eye-tracking findings suggesting that patients are following the same interpretation strategy as healthy controls. Inhibitory control deficits are likely to be one of multiple factors contributing to the poorer performance of our schizophrenia group on the metaphor trials of the picture selection task.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stuart Watson
- Newcastle University and Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
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Bora E, Yalincetin B, Akdede BB, Alptekin K. Neurocognitive and linguistic correlates of positive and negative formal thought disorder: A meta-analysis. Schizophr Res 2019; 209:2-11. [PMID: 31153670 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Executive dysfunction and language impairment are the most prominent neuropsychological models of formal thought disorder (FTD) in schizophrenia. However, available studies have provided contradictory findings regarding the accuracy of these models. Furthermore, specific neurocognitive underpinnings of positive FTD (PosFTD) and negative FTD (NegFTD) are not clear. Following the systematic review of schizophrenia studies, a random-effects meta-analysis of the relationship between FTD and neurocognition/language in schizophrenia was conducted in 52 reports including 2805 patients. Neurocognition was significantly associated with both PosFTD (r = -0.21, CI = -0.14 to -0.27) and NegFTD (r = -0.24, CI = -0.18 to -0.30). Both PosFTD (r = ranged from -0.18 to -0.27) and NegFTD (r = ranged from -0.19 to -0.23) were significantly correlated with verbal memory, visual memory, attention, and processing speed. In meta-analyses of executive functions, PosFTD was significantly associated with working memory (r = -0.21), planning (r = -0.19), and inhibition (r = -0.21) and NegFTD was significantly associated with planning (r = -0.27), fluency (r = -0.27), and working memory (r = -0.24). In meta-analyses of linguistic variables, PosFTD was associated with deficits in syntactic comprehension (r = -0.27) and semantic processing (r = -0.18). In contrast, NegFTD was associated only with semantic comprehension (r = -0.21). Both PosFTD and NegFTD were significantly associated with executive dysfunction, neurocognitive deficits and semantic dysfunction but syntactic deficits were more specific to PosFTD. There were also some distinct patterns of relationships between the pattern of executive dysfunction and types of FTD. Fluency deficit was associated more strongly with NegFTD and poor inhibition was more specifically related to PosFTD. Current findings suggest that neurocognitive and linguistic correlates of PosFTD and NegFTD might be partly different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Bora
- Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, Izmir 35340, Turkey; Department of Neuroscience, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35340, Turkey; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, Victoria 3053, Australia.
| | - Berna Yalincetin
- Department of Neuroscience, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35340, Turkey
| | - Berna Binnur Akdede
- Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, Izmir 35340, Turkey; Department of Neuroscience, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35340, Turkey
| | - Köksal Alptekin
- Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, Izmir 35340, Turkey; Department of Neuroscience, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35340, Turkey
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Faces provide a rich source of social information, crucial for the successful navigation of daily social interactions. People with schizophrenia suffer a wide range of social-cognitive deficits, including abnormalities in face perception. However, to date, studies of face perception in schizophrenia have primarily employed tasks that require patients to make judgements about the faces. It is, thus, unclear whether the reported deficits reflect an impairment in encoding visual face information, or biased social-cognitive evaluative processes. METHODS We assess the integrity of early unconscious face processing in 21 out-patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder (15M/6F) and 21 healthy controls (14M/7F). In order to control for any direct influence of higher order cognitive processes, we use a behavioural paradigm known as breaking continuous flash suppression (b-CFS), where participants simply respond to the presence and location of a face. In healthy adults, this method has previously been used to show that upright faces gain rapid and privileged access to conscious awareness over inverted faces and other inanimate objects. RESULTS Here, we report similar effects in patients, suggesting that the early unconscious stages of face processing are intact in schizophrenia. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that face processing deficits reported in the literature must manifest at a conscious stage of processing, where the influence of mentalizing or attribution biases might play a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Caruana
- a ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders , Sydney , Australia.,b Department of Cognitive Science , Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia
| | - Timo Stein
- c Department of Psychology , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
| | - Tamara Watson
- d School of Social Sciences and Psychology , Western Sydney University , Sydney , Australia
| | - Nikolas Williams
- a ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders , Sydney , Australia.,b Department of Cognitive Science , Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia
| | - Kiley Seymour
- a ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders , Sydney , Australia.,d School of Social Sciences and Psychology , Western Sydney University , Sydney , Australia
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Kieckhäfer C, Felsenheimer AK, Rapp AM. A New Test for Irony Detection: The Influence of Schizotypal, Borderline, and Autistic Personality Traits. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:28. [PMID: 30837899 PMCID: PMC6382691 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Irony has repeatedly been suggested as a language based social cognition task. It has been argued to show specific variances in psychiatric disorders and healthy adults with certain personality traits. Above that, irony comprehension is based on a complex interplay of the informational context, the relationship of the conversational partners, and the personality of the recipient. The present study developed a video-based German language test for a systematic examination of irony detection accuracy (Tuerony). The test includes (i) a stereotypical conversation partner (doctor, actor) in (ii) different perspectives (direct interaction, neutral observer) and (iii) a bilateral chat history on a conventional messenger service interface with ironic criticism, ironic praise, literal criticism, and literal praise. Based on the continuous approach of psychiatric symptoms, schizotypal, borderline, and autistic personality traits were associated with irony detection accuracy in a healthy sample. Given the often reported role of mentalization in irony detection, these associations were also investigated. First, a broad variance of irony comprehension in our healthy sample could be shown. Second, schizotypal and borderline, but not autistic traits were significantly negatively associated with irony detection accuracy. Finally, in the current healthy sample, neither variation of the conversational context nor mentalization characteristics were significantly associated with performance beyond personality traits. The current results therefore highlight two aspects for future research in irony comprehension: the importance of ecological valid tests and the role of the individual personality of the recipient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Kieckhäfer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, LVR-Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Anne K Felsenheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Michael Rapp
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,Fliedner Klinik Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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Pepper KL, Demetriou EA, Park SH, Song YC, Hickie IB, Cacciotti-Saija C, Langdon R, Piguet O, Kumfor F, Thomas EE, Guastella AJ. Autism, early psychosis, and social anxiety disorder: understanding the role of social cognition and its relationship to disability in young adults with disorders characterized by social impairments. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:233. [PMID: 30367029 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0282-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Impairments in social cognition are believed contribute to disability, particularly for disorders characterized by difficulties in social interaction. There has been little transdiagnostic investigation of this across social cognition domains in young adults. A total of 199 young adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; N = 53), early psychosis (EP; N = 51), and social anxiety disorder (SAD; N = 64) were compared against neurotypical controls (NT; N = 31) on a battery of lower and higher-order and self-report social cognition measures. For both ASD and EP, participants showed impaired performance on all lower-order emotion recognition tasks and one higher-order social cognition test. Self-reports of empathy were reduced in all clinical groups and particularly in ASD. For SAD, despite showing no objective social cognition impairment, self-reported empathy was reduced to the same level as EP. Discriminant analysis revealed that self-reported empathy and lower-order emotion recognition tests provide best capacity to differentiate groups. Regressions predicting disability revealed depression as the strongest predictor across all disability measures. Empathy provided additional predictive value for social disability and social interaction anxiety. Overall, results support a similar social-cognitive development profile across ASD and EP. While self-reported empathy differentiated between groups, discrepancy between objective social cognition test performance and self-reported empathy in the SAD group suggests probable threat-related self-monitoring report biases that likely further influence all group outcomes. As depression and empathy were the most important predictors of disability, regardless of diagnostic group, research is required to explore targeted interventions for difficulties in these domains to reduce disability.
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Abstract
Aim of the paper is to discuss the extent to which pragmatics, i.e., the ability to use language and other expressive means to convey meaning in a specific interactional context, overlaps with Theory of Mind (ToM), i.e., the ability to ascribe mental states to oneself and the others. We present empirical data available in the current literature concerning the relation between these two faculties, with specific reference to the developmental and clinical domains. Part of the literature we take into account appears to show that ToM does correlate with pragmatic ability; however, other studies appear to show that pragmatic ability alone cannot explain the empirical differences of performance across different kinds of pragmatic tasks, and therefore that another, at least partially different faculty is required to account for human communication. We argue that to conceive pragmatics as a sort of subcomponent of ToM, and thus to conflate or reduce the notion of pragmatics into the (wider) notion of ToM, is not theoretically correct and a possible cause of methodological confusion in the relevant empirical research. It thus turns out to be necessary that the two faculties be investigated with separate theories as well as different experimental tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca M. Bosco
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute of Turin (NIT), University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Ilaria Gabbatore
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Abstract
People with schizophrenia often exhibit difficulties to comprehend figurative expressions, such as irony, proverbs, metaphors and idioms, with a general proneness to neglect the figurative meaning and to accept the more literal one. This inability is usually referred to as concretism and it constitutes a clinical manifestation of the broader language dysfunction called Formal Thought Disorder. The current review focuses on the neuropsychological and neuroanatomical underpinnings of schizophrenics’ misinterpretation of a subgroup of figurative expressions, i.e., metaphors. Metaphors are heterogeneous in nature, classifiable according to various criteria; for instance, metaphors can be conventional and familiar, or conversely, novel and unusual. These linguistic distinctions are substantial because the comprehension of the different types of metaphor entails partially different cognitive strategies and neural substrates. This review gathers studies that have directly investigated which neurocognitive deficits explain the inefficient comprehension of metaphor in schizophrenia. Several impairments have been put forward, such as general intelligence, executive functions and theory of mind deficits. Moreover, the neural correlates of metaphor comprehension in schizophrenia, like the left inferior/medial frontal gyrus and the temporal lobe, match those cortices affected by the neuropathology of schizophrenia. Even though the causal defective mechanism is still a matter of investigation, we provide an attempt to integrate existing findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ileana Rossetti
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Costanza Papagno
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,Center for Mind/Brain Sciences and Centro di Riabilitazione Neurocognitiva, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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Yildirim E, Yalinçetin B, Sevilmiş Ş, Kutay Ö, Alptekin K. Is There Any Relation Between Impaired Emotion Perception and Thought Disorder in Schizophrenia? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 55:118-122. [PMID: 30057451 DOI: 10.5152/npa.2017.19277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Many patients with schizophrenia demonstrate an impaired recognition of emotions as well as thought disorder. However, there may be a correlation between these core impairment domains of schizophrenia. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the perception of emotion and thought disturbance in schizophrenia. Methods The sample consisted of 53 patients with schizophrenia and 38 healthy controls. The Emotions Battery of the University of Pennsylvania Computerised Neuropsychological Test Battery (PennCNP) and the Thought Language Index (TLI) were used to examine the association of the perception of emotion and thought disorders. Results Statistical analyses revealed that patients with schizophrenia had poor performance on the recognition of happy, sad, fear, anger, and neutral facial emotion expressions compared to controls. Severity of negative and disorganisation symptoms in schizophrenia patients was found to be related to negative emotions (fear, anger, etc.). Moreover, results revealed that disorganised thoughts are related to misidentification of positive emotions (happy). Conclusions Our results suggested that emotion perception disturbances could be associated with disorganised thought in schizophrenia. Impaired recognition and misinterpretation of positive emotions may contribute to the occurrence of disorganised thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Yildirim
- Department of Neuroscience, İstanbul University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Berna Yalinçetin
- Department of Neuroscience, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Şilay Sevilmiş
- Department of Neuroscience, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Özge Kutay
- Department of Neuroscience, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Köksal Alptekin
- Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
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Wampers M, Schrauwen S, De Hert M, Gielen L, Schaeken W. Patients with psychosis struggle with scalar implicatures. Schizophr Res 2018; 195:97-102. [PMID: 28888359 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.08.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Pragmatic language difficulties in people with psychosis have been demonstrated repeatedly but one of the most studied types of pragmatic language, i.e. scalar implicatures (SIs), has not yet been examined in this population. SIs are a special kind of pragmatic inferences, based on linguistic expressions like some, or, must. Such expressions are part of a scale of informativeness organized by informativity (e.g. some/many/all). Although semantically the less informative expressions imply the more informative ones, pragmatically people generally infer that the use of a less informative expression implies that the more informative option is not applicable. Based on the pragmatic language difficulties of people with psychosis we hypothesized that they may be less likely to derive these pragmatic SIs. We conducted two studies in which the ability of people with psychosis to derive SIs was compared to that of healthy controls matched for age and educational level. In the second study we additionally explored the possible link between the capacity to derive SIs and theory of mind (ToM) ability. In general, people with psychosis were less likely to derive SIs than controls. However, the patient group was not homogeneous: half had problems deriving SIs, the other half did not. This dichotomization seems linked to ToM ability because in the patient group, better ToM was associated with a higher ability to derive SIs. Based on the nature of the stimuli used in the SI-task we speculate that this link may not be a direct but an indirect one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martien Wampers
- University Psychiatric Hospital KU Leuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, 3070 Kortenberg, Belgium; University of Leuven, Faculty of Medicines, Department of Neurosciences, Herestraat 49, Box 721, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Sofie Schrauwen
- University of Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, Tiensestraat 101, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc De Hert
- University Psychiatric Hospital KU Leuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, 3070 Kortenberg, Belgium; University of Leuven, Faculty of Medicines, Department of Neurosciences, Herestraat 49, Box 721, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leen Gielen
- University Psychiatric Hospital KU Leuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, 3070 Kortenberg, Belgium
| | - Walter Schaeken
- University of Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, Tiensestraat 101, Leuven, Belgium
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Cacciotti-Saija C, Langdon R, Ward PB, Hickie IB, Guastella AJ. Clinical symptoms predict concurrent social and global functioning in an early psychosis sample. Early Interv Psychiatry 2018; 12:177-184. [PMID: 26626426 DOI: 10.1111/eip.12295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM Although well established in chronic schizophrenia, the key determinants of functioning remain unknown during the early phase of a psychotic disorder. The aim of this study was to comprehensively examine the social cognitive, basic neurocognitive and clinical predictors of concurrent social functioning and global functioning in an early psychosis sample. METHODS This study examined the relationship between social cognition, basic neurocognition and clinical symptoms with concurrent functioning in 51 early psychosis individuals. Assessments included a range of self-report, observational and clinician-rated measures of cognitive, symptom severity and functioning domains. RESULTS Results revealed a significant association between self-reported social function and lower levels of both social interaction anxiety and negative psychotic symptoms. A significant association was also observed between lower levels of negative psychotic symptoms and observed social functioning. Lastly, results demonstrated a significant association between reduced negative psychotic symptoms and clinician-rated global functioning. CONCLUSIONS Clinical domains such as negative symptoms and social interaction anxiety significantly contribute to an optimal model predicting outcome during the early phase of a psychotic disorder. These clinical features may also provide useful markers of an individual's capacity for social participation. Clinical implications include the need for early targeted intervention to address social anxiety and negative psychotic symptoms to facilitate optimum patient outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robyn Langdon
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders (CCD), Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Philip B Ward
- Schizophrenia Research Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Eddy CM. Social cognition and self-other distinctions in neuropsychiatry: Insights from schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 82:69-85. [PMID: 29195921 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Impairments in social cognition may reflect dysfunction of disorder specific or disorder general mechanisms. Although cross-disorder comparison may prove insightful, few studies have compared social cognition in different neuropsychiatric disorders. Parallel investigation of schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome (TS) is encouraged by similarities including the presence of problematic social behavior, echophenomena, emotional dysregulation and dopamine dysfunction. Focusing on tests of social cognition administered in both disorders, this review aims to summarize behavioral, neurophysiological and neuroimaging findings, before exploring how these may contribute to clinical symptoms. Studies investigating social cognition (imitation, emotion recognition, and understanding of beliefs or intentions) in patients with schizophrenia or TS were identified through Web of Science and PubMed searches. Although findings indicate that social cognitive deficits are more apparent in schizophrenia, adults with TS can exhibit similar task performance to patients with paranoia. In both disorders, behavioral and neuroimaging findings raise the possibility of increased internal simulation of others' actions and emotions, in combination with a relative under-application of mentalizing. More specifically, dysfunction in neurobiological substrates such as temporo-parietal junction and inferior frontal gyrus may underlie problems with self-other distinctions in both schizophrenia and TS. Difficulties in distinguishing between actions and mental states linked to the self and other may contribute to a range of psychiatric symptoms, including emotional dysregulation, paranoia, social anhedonia and socially disruptive urges. Comparing different patient populations could therefore reveal common neuro-cognitive risk factors for the development of problematic social behaviors, in addition to markers of resilience, coping strategies and potential neuro-compensation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare M Eddy
- BSMHFT National Centre for Mental Health, Birmingham, and College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.
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Clarke A, Meredith PJ, Rose TA, Daubney M. A role for epistemic trust in speech-language pathology: A tutorial paper. J Commun Disord 2018; 72:54-63. [PMID: 29471178 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper provides an introduction to epistemic trust for speech-language pathologists (SLPs). 'Epistemic trust' describes a specific form of trust that an individual places in others when learning about the world, particularly the social world. To date, the relevance of epistemic trust to SLP clinical practice has received little theoretical or empirical attention. The aim of this paper is to define epistemic trust and explain its relationship with parent-child attachment and mentalization which have, in turn, been linked with language development and use. Suggestions are made for ways in which SLPs may encourage epistemic trust in clients, emphasizing the need to establish strong therapeutic alliances. The authors conclude that epistemic trust is an important consideration for SLPs and that further research exploring the relationship between epistemic trust and language skills is needed to better understand the interplay of these variables and inform clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Clarke
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Pamela J Meredith
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tanya A Rose
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael Daubney
- Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Health, Queensland, Australia
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Perlini C, Bellani M, Finos L, Lasalvia A, Bonetto C, Scocco P, D'Agostino A, Torresani S, Imbesi M, Bellini F, Konze A, Veronese A, Ruggeri M, Brambilla P. Non literal language comprehension in a large sample of first episode psychosis patients in adulthood. Psychiatry Res 2018; 260:78-89. [PMID: 29175503 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
To date no data still exist on the comprehension of figurative language in the early phases of psychosis. The aim of this study is to investigate for the first time the comprehension of metaphors and idioms at the onset of the illness. Two-hundred-twenty eight (228) first episode psychosis (FEP) patients (168 NAP, non-affective psychosis; 60 AP, affective psychosis) and 70 healthy controls (HC) were assessed. Groups were contrasted on: a) type of stimulus (metaphors vs idioms) and b) type of response (OPEN = spontaneous explanations vs CLOSED = multiple choice answer). Moreover, a machine learning (ML) approach was adopted to classifying participants. Both NAP and AP had a poorer performance on OPEN metaphors and idioms compared to HC, with worse results on spontaneous interpretation of idioms than metaphors. No differences were observed between NAP and AP in CLOSED tasks. The ML approach points at CLOSED idioms as the best discriminating variable, more relevant than the set of pre-frontal and IQ scores. Deficits in non-figurative language may represent a core feature of psychosis. The possibility to identify linguistic features discriminating FEP may support the early recognition of patients at risk to develop psychosis, guiding provision of personalized and timely interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Perlini
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Marcella Bellani
- UOC of Psychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) of Verona, Italy
| | - Livio Finos
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Antonio Lasalvia
- UOC of Psychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) of Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonetto
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Paolo Scocco
- Department of Mental Health, AULSS 6 Euganea, Padua, Italy
| | - Armando D'Agostino
- Department of Health Sciences, San Paolo University Hospital, University of Milan, Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Torresani
- Department of Psychiatry, ULSS, Bolzano Suedtiroler Sanitaetbetrieb- Azienda Sanitaria dell'Alto Adige, Bolzano, Italy
| | | | | | - Angela Konze
- SOC Radiology - S.Maria Nuova Hospital, Usl Central Tuscany, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Mirella Ruggeri
- UOC of Psychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) of Verona, Italy; Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Psychiatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Texas at Houston, TX, USA.
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Herold R, Varga E, Hajnal A, Hamvas E, Berecz H, Tóth B, Tényi T. Altered Neural Activity during Irony Comprehension in Unaffected First-Degree Relatives of Schizophrenia Patients-An fMRI Study. Front Psychol 2018; 8:2309. [PMID: 29375430 PMCID: PMC5767266 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Irony is a type of figurative language in which the literal meaning of the expression is the opposite of what the speaker intends to communicate. Even though schizophrenic patients are known as typically impaired in irony comprehension and in the underlying neural functions, to date no one has explored the neural correlates of figurative language comprehension in first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients. In the present study, we examined the neural correlates of irony understanding in schizophrenic patients and in unaffected first-degree relatives of patients compared to healthy adults with functional MRI. Our aim was to investigate if possible alterations of the neural circuits supporting irony comprehension in first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia would fulfill the familiality criterion of an endophenotype. We examined 12 schizophrenic patients, 12 first-degree relatives of schizophrenia patients and 12 healthy controls with functional MRI while they were performing irony and control tasks. Different phases of irony processing were examined, such as context processing and ironic statement comprehension. Patients had significantly more difficulty understanding irony than controls or relatives. Patients also showed markedly different neural activation pattern compared to controls in both stages of irony processing. Although no significant differences were found in the performance of the irony tasks between the control group and the relative group, during the fMRI analysis, the relatives showed stronger brain activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during the context processing phase of irony tasks than the control group. However, the controls demonstrated higher activations in the left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and in the right inferior frontal gyrus during the ironic statement phase of the irony tasks than the relative group. Our results show that despite good task performance, first-degree relatives of schizophrenia patients had alterations in the neural circuits during irony processing. Thus, we suggest that neural alteration of irony comprehension could be a potential endophenotypic marker of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Róbert Herold
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Eszter Varga
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - András Hajnal
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Edina Hamvas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Hajnalka Berecz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Borbála Tóth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Tényi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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Rapp AM, Felsenheimer AK, Langohr K, Klupp M. The Comprehension of Familiar and Novel Metaphoric Meanings in Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study. Front Psychol 2018; 8:2251. [PMID: 29354082 PMCID: PMC5760836 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Miscomprehension of nonliteral (“figurative”) language like metaphors, proverbs, idioms, and ironic expressions by patients with schizophrenia is a phenomenon mentioned already in historical psychiatric descriptions. However, it was only recently that studies did differentiate between novel and conventional metaphors, a factor that is known to influence the difficulty of comprehension in healthy subjects. Further, familiarity with stimuli is an important factor for comprehension, which was not recommended in utmost previous studies. In this study, 23 patients with DSM IV schizophrenia and 19 healthy control subjects performed a newly-developed German metaphor comprehension test with three types of stimuli: novel metaphors, conventional German metaphors, and meaningless statements. During the test procedure, participants indicated familiarity with the stimulus and then matched the meaning with one out of four given alternatives. Familiarity rankings did not significantly differ between patients and control subjects. However, on descriptive level, there was a tendency for healthy controls to be more familiar with conventional metaphors than schizophrenic patients. Further, comprehension of conventional and novel metaphors differed significantly between the groups, with higher performance in healthy controls. Considering only those metaphors that had been ranked as familiar, patients only revealed significant lower performance opposed to controls regarding novel metaphors, while they did not differ in conventional metaphors. Taken together, the results indicate that patients with schizophrenia might show an altered way of comprehension in novel metaphors, leading to more misunderstandings. However, their previously reported impairments in conventional metaphors might rather be due to a lack of familiarity with the stimuli—making conventional metaphors to novel metaphors in the individual case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Rapp
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anne K Felsenheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karin Langohr
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Magdalena Klupp
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Li X, Hu D, Deng W, Tao Q, Hu Y, Yang X, Wang Z, Tao R, Yang L, Zhang X. Pragmatic Ability Deficit in Schizophrenia and Associated Theory of Mind and Executive Function. Front Psychol 2017; 8:2164. [PMID: 29321753 PMCID: PMC5732175 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Deficits in pragmatic abilities have frequently been observed in patients with schizophrenia. The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between pragmatic deficits, ToM deficits and executive dysfunctions in schizophrenia. A group of 42 schizophrenic patients and 42 healthy controls were assessed on irony task (one type of pragmatic language), two subcomponents of ToM (cognitive and affective), and three subcomponents of EF (inhibition, updating, and switching). The clinical symptoms in schizophrenia were assessed using the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The schizophrenia group exhibited significant impairments in all above tasks compared to the control group. Correlation results found that irony scores were correlated with the two subcomponents of ToM and two of the three subcomponents of EF (inhibition and updating). The regression analysis revealed that the cognitive ToM and inhibition predicted 9.2% and 29.9% of the variance of irony comprehension in the patient group, and inhibition was the best predictor for performance on irony task. Irony understanding was related to positive symptoms, but not to negative symptoms. The results suggest that the ability to interpret pragmatic language depends on schizophrenic patients' ability to infer mental states and the ability of inhibition. It provides empirical evidence for a particular target of inhibition for rehabilitation and intervention programs developed for schizophrenic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Li
- Department of Medical Psychology, Chaohu Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Die Hu
- Department of Medical Psychology, Chaohu Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenrui Deng
- Department of Medical Psychology, Chaohu Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qian Tao
- Department of Psychology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Hu
- Department of Psychology, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Hefei, Hefei, China
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaoxue Yang
- Department of Medical Psychology, Chaohu Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Medical Psychology, Chaohu Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Rui Tao
- Department of Psychology, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Hefei, Hefei, China
- Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
| | - Lizhuang Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaochu Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
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Fukuhara K, Ogawa Y, Tanaka H, Nagata Y, Nishida S, Haga D, Nishikawa T. Impaired Interpretation of Others' Behavior is Associated with Difficulties in Recognizing Pragmatic Language in Patients with Schizophrenia. J Psycholinguist Res 2017; 46:1309-1318. [PMID: 28500472 DOI: 10.1007/s10936-017-9497-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Much attention has been paid to the pragmatic language function in schizophrenia. This study of Japanese patients with schizophrenia examined the relationship between impaired interpretation of the behaviors of other people in social contexts and the ability to recognize metaphor and irony. We assessed 34 patients with schizophrenia and 34 normal subjects using first- and second-order theory of mind tasks, the Metaphor and Sarcasm Scenario Test, and the Dewey Story Test (which tests the ability to judge others' social behaviors). We compared the performance between the groups and analyzed correlations between the tasks. All tasks revealed significant deficits in the patients compared with the controls. In the patient group, metaphor comprehension was correlated with the ability to judge normal behaviors, and irony comprehension was correlated with the ability to judge abnormal behaviors, suggesting that deficits of social cognition in schizophrenia include these two types of factors associated with pragmatic language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Fukuhara
- Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University Graduate School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, 3-7-30 Habikino, Habikino-City, Osaka, 5838555, Japan
- Department of Psychiatric Day Care, Mikiwakai Orange Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Ogawa
- Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University Graduate School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, 3-7-30 Habikino, Habikino-City, Osaka, 5838555, Japan
- Day Care Center, Hokutokai Sawa Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tanaka
- Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University Graduate School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, 3-7-30 Habikino, Habikino-City, Osaka, 5838555, Japan
| | - Yuma Nagata
- Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University Graduate School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, 3-7-30 Habikino, Habikino-City, Osaka, 5838555, Japan
| | - Saiji Nishida
- Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University Graduate School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, 3-7-30 Habikino, Habikino-City, Osaka, 5838555, Japan
| | - Daisuke Haga
- Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University Graduate School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, 3-7-30 Habikino, Habikino-City, Osaka, 5838555, Japan
- Day Care Center, Hokutokai Sawa Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takashi Nishikawa
- Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University Graduate School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, 3-7-30 Habikino, Habikino-City, Osaka, 5838555, Japan.
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Özaslan Z, Bilgin H. Şizofrenide Üstbiliş. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 2017. [DOI: 10.30934/kusbed.317079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Knapp F, Viechtbauer W, Leonhart R, Nitschke K, Kaller CP. Planning performance in schizophrenia patients: a meta-analysis of the influence of task difficulty and clinical and sociodemographic variables. Psychol Med 2017; 47:2002-2016. [PMID: 28385166 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291717000459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite a large body of research on planning performance in adult schizophrenia patients, results of individual studies are equivocal, suggesting either no, moderate or severe planning deficits. This meta-analysis therefore aimed to quantify planning deficits in schizophrenia and to examine potential sources of the heterogeneity seen in the literature. METHOD The meta-analysis comprised outcomes of planning accuracy of 1377 schizophrenia patients and 1477 healthy controls from 31 different studies which assessed planning performance using tower tasks such as the Tower of London, the Tower of Hanoi and the Stockings of Cambridge. A meta-regression analysis was applied to assess the influence of potential moderator variables (i.e. sociodemographic and clinical variables as well as task difficulty). RESULTS The findings indeed demonstrated a planning deficit in schizophrenia patients (mean effect size: ; 95% confidence interval 0.56-0.78) that was moderated by task difficulty in terms of the minimum number of moves required for a solution. The results did not reveal any significant relationship between the extent of planning deficits and sociodemographic or clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS The current results provide first meta-analytic evidence for the commonly assumed impairments of planning performance in schizophrenia. Deficits are more likely to become manifest in problem items with higher demands on planning ahead, which may at least partly explain the heterogeneity of previous findings. As only a small fraction of studies reported coherent information on sample characteristics, future meta-analyses would benefit from more systematic reports on those variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Knapp
- Kliniken Schmieder,Allensbach,Germany
| | - W Viechtbauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology,Maastricht University,Maastricht,The Netherlands
| | - R Leonhart
- Department of Psychology,University of Freiburg,Freiburg,Germany
| | - K Nitschke
- Department of Psychology,University of Freiburg,Freiburg,Germany
| | - C P Kaller
- Department of Neurology,Medical Center,University of Freiburg,Freiburg,Germany
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Elsayed Eltaweel M, Ibrahim Y. Theory of mind deficits in symptom remittent schizophrenia: a state or a trait? Middle East Current Psychiatry 2017; 24:102-8. [DOI: 10.1097/01.xme.0000516723.00890.f0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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47
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García RR, Aliste F, Soto G. Social Cognition in Schizophrenia: Cognitive and Neurobiological Aspects. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 47:170-176. [PMID: 30017040 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcp.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Social cognition in schizophrenia is currently one of the major fields of interest in studies of this disorder. It is commonly conceptualised as a set of mental operations underlying social interactions, and therefore related to the ability to interpret and predict the behaviour of others in different social contexts. The research community has defined the functional areas that constitute the domain of social cognition, including, at least, the theory of mind, sensory perception, social perception, and attributional bias. Different bodies of evidence have shown that alterations in these functions in patients with schizophrenia are linked to some of their main psychopathological dysfunctions, such as defects in sensory perception, insight and attributional origin, and authorship of human acts. These behavioural alterations have been linked to structural and functional disturbances in the constituents of the so-called social brain. This includes a set of medial parietal, temporal, and pre-frontal areas that have been associated with some anomalies in the theory of mind, the perception of emotions, and the ability to consider the perspective of others, phenomena commonly found in schizophrenia. Future research in the domain of social cognition should be aimed at clarifying its relationship with the social brain and neurocognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo R García
- Centro de Estudios Cognitivos y Departamento de Lingüística, Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Unidad de Psiquiatría Comunitaria, Hospital Padre Hurtado, Servicio Metropolitano de Salud Suroriente, San Ramón, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Aliste
- Unidad de Psiquiatría Comunitaria, Hospital Padre Hurtado, Servicio Metropolitano de Salud Suroriente, San Ramón, Santiago, Chile
| | - Guillermo Soto
- Centro de Estudios Cognitivos y Departamento de Lingüística, Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Nagels A, Fährmann P, Stratmann M, Ghazi S, Schales C, Frauenheim M, Turner L, Hornig T, Katzev M, Müller-Isberner R, Grosvald M, Krug A, Kircher T. Distinct Neuropsychological Correlates in Positive and Negative Formal Thought Disorder Syndromes: The Thought and Language Disorder Scale in Endogenous Psychoses. Neuropsychobiology 2017; 73:139-47. [PMID: 27058747 DOI: 10.1159/000441657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The correlation of formal thought disorder (FTD) symptoms and subsyndromes with neuropsychological dimensions is as yet unclear. Evidence for a dysexecutive syndrome and semantic access impairments has been discussed in positive FTD, albeit focusing mostly on patients with schizophrenia. We investigated the correlation of the full range of positive and negative as well as subjective and objective FTD with neuropsychological domains in different patient groups. Patients with ICD-10 schizophrenia (n = 51), depression (n = 51), and bipolar mania (n = 18), as well as healthy subjects (n = 60), were interviewed with the Rating Scale for the Assessment of Objective and Subjective Formal Thought and Language Disorder (TALD) and assessed using a multidimensional neuropsychological test battery (executive function, semantic and lexical verbal fluency, attention, working memory, and abstract thinking). Partial correlation analysis, controlling for age and word knowledge, revealed significant results for the objective positive FTD dimension and executive dysfunctions. Objective negative FTD was associated with deficits in lexico-semantic retrieval, as well as attention and working memory dysfunctions. The results suggest that different neuropsychological substrates correlate with the multidimensional and phenomenologically different FTD syndromes. FTD is a complex, multidimensional syndrome with a variety of neuropsychological impairments, which should be accounted for in future studies investigating the pathogenesis of FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Nagels
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Gabbatore I, Bosco FM, Geda E, Gastaldo L, Duca S, Costa T, Bara BG, Sacco K. Cognitive Pragmatic Rehabilitation Program in Schizophrenia: A Single Case fMRI Study. Neural Plast 2017; 2017:1612078. [PMID: 28239498 DOI: 10.1155/2017/1612078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. The present study was intended to evaluate the effects of a rehabilitative training, the Cognitive Pragmatic Treatment (CPT), aimed at improving communicative-pragmatic abilities and the related cognitive components, on the cerebral modifications of a single case patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods. The patient underwent two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions, before and after the treatment. In order to assess brain changes, we calculated the Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuation (ALFF) index of the resting-state fMRI signal, which is interpreted as reflecting the intensity of the spontaneous regional activity of the brain. Behavioural measures of the patient's communicative performance were also gathered before and after training and at follow-up. Results. The patient improved his communicative performance in almost all tests. Posttraining stronger ALFF signal emerged in the superior, inferior, and medial frontal gyri, as well as the superior temporal gyri. Conclusions. Even if based on a single case study, these preliminary results show functional changes at the cerebral level that seem to support the patient's behavioural improvements.
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