Neurocognition functioning as a prerequisite to intact social cognition in schizophrenia

ABSTRACT

Introduction: There are mixed findings regarding the relationships between neurocognition and social cognition in schizophrenia. This study aims to provide new empirical evidence to help determine the relationships between these constructs in schizophrenia.

Methods: 299 stabilised patients with schizophrenia aged 18–65 years old were recruited. After having into account exclusion criteria, final sample was contained 284 patients. The Emotion Recognition Assessment Test (ERAT) was used to assess six basic emotions. To assess the theory of mind (ToM), the Hinting Task and the Faux-Pas Test were used, and the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP) was administered to assess cognitive functioning. Bivariate and multivariate analyses (partial correlations, canonical correlation, regression analysis, and confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis) were conducted.

Results: Statistically significant relationships were found between the subtests of the SCIP and social cognitive measures. The redundancy coefficient in the canonical analysis was 0.13. The CFA analysis showed that the best model has a two-factor structure, in which neurocognition and social cognition are correlated factors. Less than 10% of patients with impaired cognitive functioning have a performance within normal range on social cognition tests.

Conclusions: The findings show that neurocognition and social cognition are independent but related constructs.

KEYWORDS:

• Neurocognition
• social cognition
• schizophrenia
• factor analysis

Acknowledgements

The SCORES research sites and the researchers involved are: Juan Gómez, Silvia Pérez, Mariola Palacios, Teresa Novoa (Centro Hospitalario Padre Menni, Santander); Ana I. Domínguez, Alfonso Saez de Ibarra, Nerea Zubiaur (Hospital Aita Menni, Mondragón) Raúl Huerta, Eduardo García, Sara Ben-Boutcha del Viejo (Complejo Asistencial Benito Menni, Madrid); Paula Muñoz, Marta Vallés, Manuel Martín (Clínica Psiquiátrica Padre Menni, Pamplona), David Porta, Margarita Velasco (Hermanas Hospitalarias, Complejo Asistencial, Málaga); Bárbara García (Servei de Rehabilitació Salut Mental Baix Empordà, Gerona); Ana Valencia, Raquel Fernández, Elena Rodríguez, Fátima Jiménez, Amparo Paños, Alberto Redondo, Manuel Hernández, Sara Caminos, Montserrat Guerra, Victoria Vara, Natalia Legarda, Sandra Díaz, José David Gómez, María del Mar Ibañez, María del Suceso Laín, Piedad Barrilero, Gracia López, Mª Carmen López, Luz María Martínez, Beatriz Villora, Amalia Oliva, Raul Cantarero de la Ossa, Sofía Pérez, Mª Teresa Jerez, Raquel Rodríguez, Victoria López, Mª Carmen Torres, Mª Carmen López-Villalta (Fundación Socio-Sanitaria Castilla La-Mancha); Ana Pérez, Sergio Benabarre (Fundación Agustín Serrate, Huesca); Laura Bassolas, Anna Beneria, Lidia Sánchez (Hospital Sant Rafael, Barcelona); David Herrero, Lucila María Pérez (Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Santander).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

David Gil-Sanz http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7328-4978