social cognition | Acta Medica Marisiensis

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Similarities and Differences of Social Cognition

Popovici Zs¹, Lăzărescu M², Ienciu Monica³, Bredicean Cristina⁴, Giurgi Oncu Cătălina⁵, Bărănescu Ramona⁵, Cristanovici Mădălina⁶

1 Psychiatry V, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania
2 Psychiatry Clinic Timișoara, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania
3 Psychiatry Clinic Timișoara, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania
4 Psychiatry Clinic Timișoara, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania
5 Psychiatry IV, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania
6 Psychiatry I, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania

Introduction: The term “social cognition” increased attention especially during the past 15–20 years, being considered a factor that could partly explain the deterioration of social functioning in persons suffering of psychosis. Social functioning represents one of the important domains for estimation the long-term evolution of schizophrenic spectrum disorders. The most important areas of social cognition are: emotion processing, theory of mind, social perception, social knowledge (social schema), and attributional style.
Material and method: In the present study we selected 63 subjects, hospitalized in Psychiatric Clinic of Timișoara between 1985–2005. They were divided into 3 samples of diagnosis according to ICD-10 criteria: A – subjects with schizophrenia, B – subjects with persistent delusional disorder and C – subjects diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Socio-demographic features were analyzed and the scales applied were BPRS (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) and SCRSP (Social Cognition Rating Scale for Psychosis).
Results: The study revealed deficit of social cognition in the 3 samples, with no significant statistical differences. Socio-demographic aspects are similar with other clinical studies.
Conclusions: deficit of social cognition is revealed both in persistent delusional disorder and in schizoaffective disorder, the highest deficit is detected in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia: Social Cognition as a Predictive Factor of Social Performance?

Popovici Zs¹, Bredicean Cristina², Papavă I², Cristanovici Mădălina¹, Giurgi Oncu Cătălina¹, Roşu M¹, Durla Anca³

1 Psychiatry Clinic, Timişoara, Romania
2 Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timişoara, “Mara” Mental Health Center, Timişoara, Romania
3 Clinical Ambulatory of Psychiatry, Satu-Mare, Romania

Objectives: Schizophrenia is one of the conditions that affect social cognition and social functioning. These aspects are particularly important when assessing the prognosis and evolution of the disease. The main objective of the present study was to examine the role of social cognition for social functioning. We hypothesized that social cognition influences directly social functioning in schizophrenia.
Material and method: We assessed 31 subjects who have been admitted for the first time to the Timișoara Psychiatric Clinic between 1998 and 2007 and who have had within the last five years a stable diagnosis of schizophrenia according to ICD-10. The following parameters were analyzed: socio-demographic (gender, age of onset, level of schooling, marital and professional status), clinical symptoms (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale), social cognition (Social Cognition Rating Scale for Psychosis) and social functioning (Social Functioning Scale).
Results: The analysis of socio-demographic features show values similar to those cited in the international literature (gender distribution approximately equal, mean age of onset of 26.2 years, mean level of schooling of 11.77; 22.6% were married and all of the subjects were retired). BPRS scores indicated average values. Most of the subjects also had a social cognition and social functioning deficit. There is a direct correlation between social cognition and social functioning (r=0.46).
Conclusions: The deficit of social cognition in schizophrenia generates a decrease of social functioning.