Sex-based differences in Jumping to Conclusions: a multidimensional analysis of first-episode psychosis.

Abstract

Jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias is a hallmark cognitive bias in psychosis that involves hasty decision-making with limited evidence. Previous research has shown links between JTC and neurocognitive (NC), social cognitive (SC), metacognitive (MC), and clinical (CV) variables, but sex-based differences in these relationships remain understudied. This multicenter cross-sectional study included 121 first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients from nine Spanish mental health centers. Participants underwent comprehensive assessments of JTC, SC, NC, MC, and CV, and the interaction between JTC and sex was analysed. JTC-women attributed negative causes of events to themselves more often than non-JTC women and men, while JTC-men displayed more cognitive rigidity, slower processing speed, and better self-esteem compared to their non-JTC counterparts. Non-JTC-women showed better verbal memory recall. Logistic regression revealed distinct predictors for JTC by sex: women were influenced by negative internalization of events and visuospatial speed, while men's JTC was linked to errors in executive functions and memory. These results highlight the importance of sex-specific patterns in JTC and suggest that women might benefit from interventions targeting reflective thinking and social cognition, whereas men may need neurocognitive rehabilitation strategies.