Antipsychotic medication and social cue recognition in chronic schizophrenia.
Social cognition has received increased attention in schizophrenia research because it is associated with functional outcomes. Psychosocial interventions are being developed to enhance social cognition, however less attention has been paid to the association between antipsychotic medication use and social cognition. This study evaluated whether individuals treated with olanzapine (n=117) or quetiapine (n=106) achieved improvements in social cognition. Participants were drawn from a larger 6-month, multi-site, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Social cognition was assessed using signal detection analysis of performance on the Social Cue Recognition Test. Social functioning was measured with an interpersonal functioning index and a broader quality of life measure. Results revealed that participants in both medication groups improved significantly but modestly on three out of four social cognition subscales. The small observed effect in this trial is generally consistent with previous studies, and supports the need for ongoing research into the biological mechanisms of social cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Roberts
David Leland
DL
Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, USA. david.l.roberts@yale.edu
Penn
David Lewis
DL
Corrigan
Patrick
P
Lipkovich
Ilya
I
Kinon
Bruce
B
Black
Ryan Andrew
RA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents