Chapter 8 - Assessing Cognition and Social Cognition in Schizophrenia & Related Disorders

Abstract

Cognitive dysfunction is common in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and includes deficits and biases in both social cognitive and basic cognitive domains. These impairments are considered a major contributor to the disabilities in daily social, educational, and occupational functioning in psychosis. Consequently, routine assessment and treatment of cognitive ability is recommended in clinical guidelines for the management of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. In this chapter, we provide a brief overview of the latest evidence regarding the cognitive and social cognitive abilities and biases of people with psychotic symptoms and disorders, what is known about the developmental progression of cognitive/social cognitive abilities, and the clinical relevance of cognitive and social cognitive dysfunction. We also examine some of the tools commonly used to assess social and basic cognition in schizophrenia and related disorders and their limitations. For each type of cognition, emphasis is placed first on measures of ability and then on measures of bias. Finally, we consider some of the challenges and opportunities that arise when assessing cognitive difficulties and strengths.