title: Neurocognitive capabilities modulate the integration of evidence in schizophrenia.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated a cognitive bias in the integration of disconfirmatory evidence (BADE) in patients with schizophrenia. This bias has been associated with delusions. So far, it is unclear how the integration of evidence is associated with neurocognitive capabilities. In the current study, 31 patients with schizophrenia and 29 healthy controls, matched on age, gender, education and premorbid verbal intelligence, underwent a BADE task. Written scenarios of three consecutive sentences each were presented, which progressively reduced the ambiguity of situations. Participants were asked to rate the plausibility of four possible interpretations and adjust their ratings in response to the provided sentences. Psychometric rating scales and a neuropsychological test battery were applied. Patients displayed a bias in the integration of confirmatory, but not disconfirmatory evidence and a liberal acceptance of belief formation. Correlation analyses revealed no associations of evidence integration with the severity of positive symptoms, but with neurocognitive domains, especially with processing speed, executive functioning, vigilance and working memory. In conclusion, patients with schizophrenia show a bias in evidence integration. Neurocognitive functioning emerged as a modulatory factor that should be considered in further research. Studies investigating BADE in earlier stages of psychosis will be necessary to reveal causal relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany. Electronic address: sarah.eifler@zi-mannheim.de.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eifler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rausch
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schirmbeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Veckenstedt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Englisch
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyer-Lindenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003469:Culture; D003657:Decision Making; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
keywords: BADE; Bias against disconfirmatory evidence; Decision making; Delusion; Metacognition; Reasoning; Schizophrenia