Chadia Haddad , Samah Al Aswad , Hala Sacre , Francois Kazour , Helen Clery , Jérôme Graux , Sara Al Kadamani , Adella Ibrahim , Anthony Rizk , Pascale Salameh , Benjamin Calvet
{"title":"Validation of the Arabic version of the self-assessment of social cognitive impairments (ACSo) tool among a sample of patients with schizophrenia","authors":"Chadia Haddad , Samah Al Aswad , Hala Sacre , Francois Kazour , Helen Clery , Jérôme Graux , Sara Al Kadamani , Adella Ibrahim , Anthony Rizk , Pascale Salameh , Benjamin Calvet","doi":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100417","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The social cognition aspect is today's research focus for improving the integration of patients with schizophrenia into society. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Self-Assessment of Social Cognitive Impairments (ACSo) tool.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study at the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross (HPC), Lebanon, enrolled 116 chronic inpatients between July and November 2023. Subjective assessment of social cognitive complaints was done using ACSo. Other clinical and objective measurements were collected to validate the ACSo tool.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>ACSo factor analysis revealed a 4-factor solution using the Promax rotated matrix. The Cronbach's alpha value for the scale was 0.656. The ACSo total score positively correlated with its items and factors. In the entire patient population, the ACSo was positively correlated with cognitive complaints (<em>r</em> = 0.560; <em>p</em> < 0.0001), achieving concurrent validity. A significant negative correlation was found between facial emotion recognition (TREF) and the total ACSo scale (<em>r</em> = −0.246, <em>p</em> = 0.002). A significant negative correlation was found between the false belief theory of mind (TOM-15) and the total ACSo scale (<em>r</em> = −0.286, <em>p</em> = 0.001). Comprehension beliefs (TOM-15) were not associated with the total ACSo scale and subscales. A negative association was found between the empathy scale and the total ACSo scale.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>ACSo is a valuable tool for the self-assessment of social cognitive complaints in patients with schizophrenia since it demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and good concurrent and construct validity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38119,"journal":{"name":"Schizophrenia Research-Cognition","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100417"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ronja Christensen , Eva Velthorst , Anne-Kathrin Fett
{"title":"The relationship between mental state decoding and real-world social functioning – An experience sampling investigation","authors":"Ronja Christensen , Eva Velthorst , Anne-Kathrin Fett","doi":"10.1016/j.scog.2026.100419","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scog.2026.100419","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Social cognition, particularly Theory of Mind (ToM), is thought to play a crucial role in social functioning. Patients with psychosis often exhibit ToM deficits, but research findings on associations with social outcomes in daily life remain conflicting.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study investigated the relationship between mental state decoding, a core aspect of ToM, measured by the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), and quantity and subjective quality of real-life social interactions in patients with psychosis, first-degree relatives, and controls.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A 7-day Experience Sampling Method (ESM) design assessed the number and quality of real-life social interactions, including time spent alone vs. in social company, loneliness, feelings of social exclusion, preferences for company, being alone by choice, enjoyment of solitude, and perceived relationship quality in 27 patients with psychosis, 17 first-degree relatives, and 26 controls. All participants completed the RMET.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Patients scored lower on the RMET compared to both relatives (β = −0.13, <em>p</em> = .006) and controls (β = −0.19, <em>p</em> < .001), suggesting mental state decoding deficits in patients. Relatives did not differ from controls (<em>p</em> = .17), suggesting no association with familial risk. Across groups, lower RMET scores predicted feelings of social exclusion (β = −0.05, <em>p</em> = .02) but there were no significant associations between RMET performance and other aspects of real-life social functioning (all <em>p</em> > .7).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Lower RMET performance was linked to greater feelings of social exclusion across groups but was unrelated to other indicators of real-life social functioning, including social emotions or frequency of social interactions. This finding is in line with other recent ESM studies, and highlights the importance of other, possibly more proximal factors for real-life social functioning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38119,"journal":{"name":"Schizophrenia Research-Cognition","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100419"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephanie H. Read , Artak Khachatryan , Theresa A. Cassidy
{"title":"Diagnosis and management of cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia: Real-world evidence from a cross-sectional survey of psychiatrists","authors":"Stephanie H. Read , Artak Khachatryan , Theresa A. Cassidy","doi":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100406","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100406","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cognitive impairment is a core feature of schizophrenia that can reduce functional capacity and quality of life in patients. However, it is unclear how physicians approach cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) in real-world clinical practice. This study examines the knowledge, attitudes and practices of psychiatrists towards CIAS in patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This non-interventional, cross-sectional study sampled psychiatrists across the US, UK and Germany with ≥36 months of clinical experience and who treated ≥5 patients with schizophrenia annually. Psychiatrists completed an online survey in December 2022 assessing their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia. Outcome variables were analysed descriptively (patient estimates: median [IQR]; psychiatrist characteristics: n [%]).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, 121 eligible psychiatrists completed the survey. Psychiatrists estimated that 50.0 % (28.0;80.0) of patients with schizophrenia exhibited cognitive impairment and diagnosed CIAS in 25.0 % (10.0;50.0) of patients. CIAS symptoms reportedly worsened over time and were transient in 50.0 % (30.0;70.0) and 20.0 % (10.0;30.0) of patients, respectively. Working and studying were ranked the activities of daily living most disrupted by CIAS by 48.8 % (<em>n</em> = 59) of psychiatrists. Only 18.2 % (<em>n</em> = 22) of psychiatrists were aware of effective CIAS treatments and 59.5 % (<em>n</em> = 72) did not administer medication for CIAS. Psychiatrists employed a watch-and-wait strategy in 50.0 % (20.0;70.0) of patients with CIAS.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study demonstrates limited consensus among psychiatrists regarding CIAS characterisation, diagnosis and management. These insights highlight an unmet need for effective diagnosis and treatment of CIAS, necessitating further research to improve the evidence base for clinical guidelines informing CIAS management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38119,"journal":{"name":"Schizophrenia Research-Cognition","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100406"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145525901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"International use of social cognition assessments: Commentary on Ziermans et al.","authors":"Michael F. Green , Keith H. Nuechterlein","doi":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100412","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100412","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":38119,"journal":{"name":"Schizophrenia Research-Cognition","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100412"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145705309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"No foreign language effect in Schizotypy: Evidence from German-English bilinguals","authors":"Steven Samuel , Markus Boeckle","doi":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100410","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100410","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous research has suggested that fewer schizophrenic and schizotypal traits are reported in a second language than a mother tongue. Such results make sense in the light of the so-called Foreign Language Effect (FLE), whereby bilinguals make more rational decisions and are less influenced by emotions and biases in a learned second language (L2) than a mother tongue (L1). However, this previous research is to date very limited, and apart from one large-scale quantitative study is based primarily on anecdotal evidence. In the study reported here, we gave German-English bilinguals the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire in either English or German. If doing the questionnaire in an L2 (here English) makes participants think more rationally and less emotionally, then fewer schizotypal traits should be reported in these participants than those who answer the same questions in their L1 (German). Results failed to support this hypothesis; there was no evidence that bilinguals reported fewer traits in their second language. We interpret these data as suggesting that the link between schizotypy (specifically) and language context may be weaker or less reliable than hitherto supposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38119,"journal":{"name":"Schizophrenia Research-Cognition","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100410"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145690799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Peijuan Wang , Chao Liu , Xueyan Zhu , Qi Yan , Ning Shen , Jiajia Shi , Qinyu Lv , Xiangdong Du
{"title":"A clinical control study of modified electroconvulsive therapy and sodium valproate as enhancement strategies for ultra-treatment-resistant schizophrenia","authors":"Peijuan Wang , Chao Liu , Xueyan Zhu , Qi Yan , Ning Shen , Jiajia Shi , Qinyu Lv , Xiangdong Du","doi":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100396","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100396","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>A substantial proportion of patients with schizophrenia show an inadequate response to clozapine, a condition termed ultra-treatment-resistant schizophrenia (UTRS). While modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) and sodium valproate are common augmentation strategies, head-to-head trials directly comparing their efficacy and safety are lacking. This study aimed to directly compare the short-term efficacy and safety of MECT versus sodium valproate as augmenting agents to clozapine in patients with UTRS.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was an 8-week, single-center, randomized controlled trial. Seventy inpatients meeting diagnostic criteria for UTRS were randomly assigned to receive either MECT augmentation (<em>n</em> = 35) or sodium valproate augmentation (n = 35), both in addition to their ongoing clozapine treatment. The primary outcome was the change in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score. Secondary outcomes included changes in cognitive function assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and laboratory safety parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>At week 8, the MECT group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in PANSS total score compared to the sodium valproate group (<em>p</em> < 0.01). The response rate, defined as a ≥ 25 % reduction in PANSS total score, was also significantly higher in the MECT group (48.6 %, 17/35) than in the valproate group (14.3 %, 5/35, <em>p</em> < 0.01). Regarding cognitive function, there was no statistically significant difference in the change of the RBANS total score between the two groups from baseline to endpoint (<em>p</em> = 0.24). Both treatments were generally well-tolerated, with no significant differences observed in key laboratory safety parameters, including leukocyte counts, liver function, and glucose levels, either within or between groups (all <em>p</em> > 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In this cohort of inpatients with UTRS, 8 weeks of MECT augmentation appeared to be more effective than sodium valproate in reducing overall psychotic symptoms. These findings should be considered preliminary, and neither intervention demonstrated short-term benefits for cognitive function. Future studies with longer follow-up periods are warranted to assess the durability of response and should include a clozapine-only control arm to confirm the true value of these augmentation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38119,"journal":{"name":"Schizophrenia Research-Cognition","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100396"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145333921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jayda L. Melnitsky , Joanne Yoon , Megan R. Mayer , Anne P. Lewandowski , Madison C. Teets , James Gangwisch , Corey Reuteman-Fowler , Wenbo Tang , Philip D. Harvey , Richard S.E. Keefe , Joshua T. Kantrowitz
{"title":"Keep your participants close, but your informants closer? The added value of high and low contact informants to supplement self-report for the cognitive impairment of schizophrenia","authors":"Jayda L. Melnitsky , Joanne Yoon , Megan R. Mayer , Anne P. Lewandowski , Madison C. Teets , James Gangwisch , Corey Reuteman-Fowler , Wenbo Tang , Philip D. Harvey , Richard S.E. Keefe , Joshua T. Kantrowitz","doi":"10.1016/j.scog.2026.100422","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scog.2026.100422","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The input of an “informant,” a person in the participant's life who can evaluate levels of functioning, can supplement potentially unreliable self-reports in schizophrenia. However, this adds to the complexity of clinical trial design. To evaluate the relative utility of information from informants and participants in a clinical trial context, we compared the participant (self-report), informant, and interviewer ratings for the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We compared the participant (self-report), informant, and interviewer ratings using paired <em>t</em>-tests, Pearson correlations and Fisher z-transformation and inter-rater reliability (IRR). To assess to importance of informant “closeness,” we conducted a categorical analysis split by informant contact (above/below 30 h/week) or relationship to the participant (family or friend).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The informant ratings for the SCoRS Total Score had an excellent IRR, (ICC = 0.91), similar to interviewer IRR (0.91). The highest level of impairment was rated by the interviewers, followed by the informant and participant self-reports. The correlation for the SCoRS total between the interviewer and informant (<em>r</em> = 0.92) was significantly larger than between the interviewer and participant self-reports or informant and participant self-reports (both <em>p</em> < 0.01). There were no significant correlations between contact hours and total ratings, and between-group correlations remained highly significant within the categorical analysis subgroups (<em>r</em> > 0.9).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our results suggest that interviewers relied on informant reports significantly more than the participant self-report, even with an informant who spends as little as 2 h a week with a participant. Future research should assess the relationship of informant ratings with cognition or symptom scales.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38119,"journal":{"name":"Schizophrenia Research-Cognition","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100422"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146202796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Self-reported cognitive functioning on the behavior rating inventory of executive function in psychotic disorders: Effects of gender, education and cognitive functioning","authors":"Eivind Haga Ronold , Rune Raudeberg","doi":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100399","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100399","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Psychotic disorders (PD) are among the most severe mental disorders and cognitive impairment contributes to this. Few studies have investigated self-reported executive function (srEF)in PD using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Adult version (BRIEF-A) and have found varying results. Population characteristics could contribute to this heterogeneity. The current study thus reported BRIEF-A scores in a sample with PD, and how this was affected by gender, education and cognitive function measured by The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>BRIEF-A consist of 9 scales, two indices (Behavioral Regulation Index [BRI] and Metacognition Index [MI]), ands a summary score Global Executive Composite (GEC). T-scores (high score = difficulties) from 260 patients (99 women, mean age 24.58) was included. Independent samples t-tests were used to compare means between genders. Gender, RBANS Total Scale scores and years of education were used to predict BRIEF-A scores in general linear mixed models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>For the full sample, the BRIEF-A the GEC showed a marginally impaired T-score (T >60) and the MI showed highest scores. Females had a GEC and MI score above clinical cutoff (T ≥65), and had significantly more srEF difficulties on all scales except Inhibit and Self-Monitor. Gender and global cognition showed some multivariate interactions, but these effects were small.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The current study indicates srEF marginally impaired meta-cognition in PD, enhanced by gender. Future studies should investigate srEF longitudinally to see how this develops following psychosis onset and identify groups in need of targeted treatments like cognitive remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38119,"journal":{"name":"Schizophrenia Research-Cognition","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100399"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145424668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cognitive deficits in individuals with comorbid personality disorder and schizophrenia: A scoping review","authors":"Anouck Chalut , Stéphane Potvin , Laura Iozzino , Marie-Ange Binette , Hubert Fiset-Renaud , Sara Abou Chabake , Tania Lecomte","doi":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100403","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scog.2025.100403","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>It is estimated that approximately 40 % of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia also meet the diagnostic criteria for a personality disorder. This comorbidity is associated with an unfavorable prognosis for the illness. Given that cognition is currently the best predictor of recovery, this study aims to characterize the cognitive profiles of individuals with comorbid personality disorders and schizophrenia by reviewing literature from the past 24 years. We sought to determine whether the cognitive deficits differed from that of individuals with only a schizophrenia diagnosis, and to further characterize these differences.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Articles were gathered from PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, PsychInfo, PsychNet, MedLine, and EMBASE. They were selected based on the following inclusion criteria: (a) use of neuropsychological or social cognition measures, (b) explicit mental disorder diagnosis established using validated diagnostic tools, (c) participants with a comorbid personality disorder and schizophrenia diagnosis, and (d) results of neuropsychological measures specific to participants with this type of comorbidity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 10 articles were included. Of these, six clinically established a personality disorder diagnosis, while five measured traits associated with various personality disorders. Due to the heterogeneity of methodologies across the studies, no statistical conclusions could be drawn.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion/conclusion</h3><div>Our review did highlight a greater presence of studies on antisocial personality, with few on other personality disorders or traits. Given the high comorbidity of personality disorders in schizophrenia, and the important impact of cognition on functioning, including social cognition, more studies are warranted. Recommendations for both clinicians and researchers are proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38119,"journal":{"name":"Schizophrenia Research-Cognition","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100403"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145474355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}