title: Neurocognitive predictors of social cognition in remitted schizophrenia.
abstract: Knowledge of how specific neurocognition (NC) abilities predict social cognition (SC) in schizophrenia has potential to guide novel integrated cognitive-remediation therapies. The scope of studies conducted in this field is limited as they have not examined a comprehensive set of SC domains and they employ small sample sizes of heterogeneous patient groups. We studied a broad range of NC (sustained attention, processing speed, verbal/visual memory and visual processing/encoding, cognitive flexibility and planning) and SC [different levels of theory of mind (ToM)], attributional bias, emotion recognition and social perception] abilities in 170 remitted schizophrenia patients. Multivariate regression analyses revealed attention and planning as predictors of 1st order ToM. Memory encoding was the strongest predictor of 2nd order ToM. Faux-pas recognition, social perception and emotion recognition were influenced by a combination of cognitive flexibility and memory encoding abilities. Overall, NC predicted anywhere between ~4% and 40% of variance observed in specific SC sub-dimensions of attributional bias (4%), 1st order (19%) and 2nd order (12%) theory of mind, faux-pas recognition (28%), social perception (29%) and emotion recognition (39%). Individual SC abilities are predicted by distinctive as well as shared NC abilities. These findings have important implications for integrated cognitive remediation.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India. Electronic address: Urvakhsh@gmail.com.
authors: Urvakhsh Meherwan
authors: UM
authors: Mehta
authors: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India. Electronic address: shaanbhagya@gmail.com.
authors: Haralahalli D
authors: HD
authors: Bhagyavathi
authors: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India. Electronic address: jagatth@yahoo.com.
authors: Jagadisha
authors: J
authors: Thirthalli
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India. Electronic address: keshavjk@yahoo.com.
authors: Keshav J
authors: KJ
authors: Kumar
authors: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India. Electronic address: kalyanybg@yahoo.com.
authors: Bangalore N
authors: BN
authors: Gangadhar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D004644:Emotions; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D056345:Theory of Mind; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive therapy; Executive function; Memory; Social perception; Theory of mind