title: Working memory dysfunctions predict social problem solving skills in schizophrenia.
abstract: The current study aimed to examine the contribution of neurocognition and social cognition to components of social problem solving. Sixty-seven inpatients with schizophrenia and 31 healthy controls were administrated batteries of neurocognitive tests, emotion perception tests, and the Chinese Assessment of Interpersonal Problem Solving Skills (CAIPSS). MANOVAs were conducted to investigate the domains in which patients with schizophrenia showed impairments. Correlations were used to determine which impaired domains were associated with social problem solving, and multiple regression analyses were conducted to compare the relative contribution of neurocognitive and social cognitive functioning to components of social problem solving. Compared with healthy controls, patients with schizophrenia performed significantly worse in sustained attention, working memory, negative emotion, intention identification and all components of the CAIPSS. Specifically, sustained attention, working memory and negative emotion identification were found to correlate with social problem solving and 1-back accuracy significantly predicted the poor performance in social problem solving. Among the dysfunctions in schizophrenia, working memory contributed most to deficits in social problem solving in patients with schizophrenia. This finding provides support for targeting working memory in the development of future social problem solving rehabilitation interventions.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: huangj@psych.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Research Center, Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shu-ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Basis of Health Research Program, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Basis of Health Research Program, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: Lauren K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Spriggens
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Basis of Health Research Program, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Basis of Health Research Program, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: David H K
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: rckchan@psych.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Raymond C K
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066107:Social Skills
keywords: Schizophrenia; Social problem solving; Working memory