Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test Research Articles

Social cognition in bipolar disorder: the role of sociodemographic, clinical, and neurocognitive variables in emotional intelligence.

The main aims of this study were to examine the differences in the Emotional Intelligence (EI), the emotional domain of social cognition (SC), between euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and healthy controls (HC) and to evaluate the contribution of sociodemographic, clinical, and neuropsychological variables to EI. We recruited 202 patients with BD and 50 HC. EI was evaluated using the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). The sociodemographic, clinical, and neurocognitive variables that showed a significant association with EI were entered into hierarchical multiple regression analysis. BD patients obtained significantly lower scores compared to HC in the Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EIQ) and in the Understanding Emotions branch score. The best fitting model for the variables associated with EI in the patients group was a linear combination of gender, estimated IQ, family history of affective diagnosis, and executive function. The model, including these previous variables, explained up to 27.6% of the observed variance (R2 =0.276, F=16.406, P<0.001). The identification of variables associated with deficit in EI, such as male gender, lower estimated IQ, family history of affective diagnosis. and lower executive function performance, may help in selecting treatment targets to improve SC, and especially EI, in patients with BD.

Emotional Intelligence as a Predictor of Dental Hygiene Clinical Teaching Effectiveness

The development of strong interpersonal relationships between clinical instructors and students has been found to contribute to clinical teaching effectiveness (CTE). In addition, strong interpersonal relationships are more likely to occur in individuals who possess a high level of emotional intelligence (EI). However, an examination of the impact of a clinical instructor's EI on CTE has not been extensively investigated. The aims of this study were to measure the CTE and EI of dental hygiene clinical instructors and to identify any correlations between their CTE and EI. In this cross-sectional quantitative study conducted in 2017, dental hygiene clinical instructors in selected U.S. dental hygiene programs were invited to complete two online assessments: the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and the Nursing Clinical Teaching Effectiveness Inventory (NCTEI). Demographic data collected from participants was also included in the exploratory data analysis. A total of 42 clinical instructors from programs in 19 states completed both the MSCEIT and the NCTEI. The results showed statistically significant correlations between negative clinical teaching behaviors and MSCEIT outcomes. These results suggest that emotional intelligence may be linked to dental hygiene clinical instructors' teaching effectiveness, with low emotional intelligence being a predictor of negative teaching behaviors.

A critical literature review on emotional intelligence in addiction.

Emotional intelligence (EI) has been defined as the ability to perceive, understand, use and manage emotions. Studying EI could potentially be useful in understanding addictive behaviors as well as for designing and planning interventions. To conduct a critical review on EI impairment in addiction disorders. MEDLINE/PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, LILACS, and SciELO databases were searched. Articles that used the standardized Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) instrument to assess EI in people with addictions and healthy controls were selected for the review. We selected seven articles assessing EI and its associations with addiction disorders, mainly alcohol abuse and cocaine dependence. Most studies reported that individuals with addiction disorders had worse EI scores when compared to controls. Overall, the studies reviewed demonstrated that addictions are associated with EI deficits, compared to controls. However, aspects such as the small number of addictive disorders analyzed, methodological issues related to instruments for assessment of IE and the lack of follow-up remain significant limitations.

Individual variation in brain network topology is linked to emotional intelligence

BackgroundSocial cognitive ability is a significant determinant of functional outcome, and deficits in social cognition are a disabling symptom of psychotic disorders. The neurobiological underpinnings of social cognition are not well understood, hampering our ability to ameliorate these deficits. ObjectiveUsing ‘resting state’ functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) and a trans-diagnostic, data-driven analytic strategy, we sought to identify the brain network basis of emotional intelligence, a key domain of social cognition. MethodsThe study included 60 participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 45 healthy controls. All participants underwent a rsfMRI scan. Emotional Intelligence was measured using the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). A connectome-wide analysis examined how each individual brain voxel's connectivity correlated with emotional intelligence using multivariate distance matrix regression (MDMR). ResultsWe identified a region in the left superior parietal lobule (SPL) where individual network topology is linked to emotional intelligence. Specifically, in high scoring individuals, this region is a node of the Default Mode Network and in low scoring individuals, it is a node of the Dorsal Attention Network. This relationship was observed in both schizophrenia and healthy comparison participants. ConclusionPrior studies have demonstrated individual variance in the topology of canonical resting state networks but the cognitive or behavioral relevance of these differences has largely been undetermined. We observe that the left SPL, a region of high individual variance at the cytoarchitectonic level, also demonstrates individual variance in its association with large scale resting-state networks and that network topology is linked to emotional intelligence.

The Association Between Emotional Intelligence and Suicidal Behavior: A Systematic Review.

Background: Some meta-analyses have demonstrated the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and different health indicators. With the increase of suicide cases in the world, more and more professionals have been interested in the link between both variables.Aim: To study all the available evidence on the association between EI and suicidal behavior.Method: We systematically reviewed all available literature (in English or Spanish) on the relationship between both variables through the main databases.Results: Twenty-five articles were included. EI and suicidal behavior correlated inversely in almost all the articles that the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), The Emotional Intelligence Test (EIT), The Spanish Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), and The Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS/SSEIT), Barchard's Emotional Intelligence Scale, were used, that is, the higher suicidal behavior level the lower the EI score. The same results were found in two out of four investigations that used the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) between clarity (emotional understanding) and emotional repair (emotional regulation) and suicidal behavior. Two out of three studies that used the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) found that only the Strategic component of EI (emotional understanding and regulation) was a protective factor.Conclusions: The results appear to indicate that a high level of EI plays an important role in protecting against suicidal behavior, and should thus be integrated into suicide prevention programs.

Long-Acting Injectable Second-Generation Antipsychotics Improve Negative Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation in Recent Diagnosed Schizophrenia Patients: A 1-Year Follow-up Pilot Study.

Long-acting injectable second-generation antipsychotics (LAI-SGA) are typically used to maintain treatment adherence in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Recent research suggests that they may also provide an effective treatment strategy for patients with early-phase disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical and psychosocial outcomes among recent and long-term diagnosed schizophrenia outpatients treated with LAI-SGA during a follow-up period of 12 months. Stable schizophrenia patients receiving LAI-SGA with 5 or less years of illness duration (n = 10) were compared to those with more than 5 years of illness duration (n = 15). Clinical data was assessed through the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the Recovery Style Questionnaire (RSQ), and the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) Managing Emotion branch. Recently diagnosed patients showed greater improvement versus patients diagnosed for more than 5 years in adjusted mean GAF score, in PANSS factor score for negative and depressive symptoms, and in severity and intensity of suicidal ideation. Our preliminary findings support the hypothesis that LAI-SGA may influence the course of the illness if administered at the early phase of the illness. However, replicate studies are needed, possibly with larger samples.

Emotional intelligence testing for headteachers: globalization or lost in translation

PurposeThe emotional labor of headteachers and teachers is complex. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relevance of the use of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence test (MSCEIT) (Mayer, Caruso & Salovey, 2000) when assessing the emotional intelligence of headteachers as part of an investigation which aimed to reveal the ways in which female secondary school leaders were emotionally intelligent and whether it was possible to test for emotional intelligence.Design/methodology/approachSeven female headteachers’ MSCEIT reports are investigated. Semi-structured interviews were held pre- and post-test to explore the headteachers’ emotional labor. In addition, teachers serving under the headteachers were interviewed.FindingsThe accuracy of the MSCEIT is questioned, rather than taking the results at face value, attention is given to its content, language and cultural differences. The MSCEIT originates from the USA and is used globally. The findings of this investigation suggest it is possible the MSCEIT represents a deficit model due to the test takers’ interpretation of nuanced language. The findings show a disparity in relation to MSCEIT scores and self-reported emotional responses.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the sample size is small and therefore cannot claim generalization from the findings, the use of emotional intelligence tests should be used with caution. Emotional responses are best understood through life experience as the headteachers attach retrospective meaning to their leadership actions.Originality/valueHeadteachers’ work is multifaceted because emotion is integral to the processes of teaching and learning. The emotional labor of headteachers and teachers impacts and has relevance to their roles as educational landscapes continue to shift.

The relationship between aggression and ability emotional intelligence: The role of negative affect

This study aimed to contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between aggressive behaviour and individual levels of ability emotional intelligence (EI). Three hundred and ninety-five participants took part in this study. Participants were assessed on ability EI, negative affect (NA), and aggression by the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Buss–Perry Aggression questionnaires, respectively. The results revealed a negative relationship between aggression and ability EI, but this relationship depended on multiple factors: the type of EI branches and aggression dimensions, the influence of NA, and gender. Emotional management ability showed a direct relationship with aggression, while emotional perception ability presented an indirect relationship with aggression through the effect of NA. These EI abilities were related to different aggression dimensions, highlighting the direct relationship with physical aggression. Moreover, gender differences showed that women possess greater EI abilities, higher levels of NA, less aggressive behaviour, and a lower relationship between NA and aggression compared with men. This research offers a better understanding of the psychological processes explaining aggression. The inclusion of our findings in the design of prevention and treatment programs could be of great help in the control of aggressive behaviour.

Assessment of emotion processing skills in acquired brain injury using an ability-based test of emotional intelligence.

Social and emotional problems are commonly reported after moderate to severe acquired brain injury (ABI) and pose a significant barrier to rehabilitation. However, progress in assessment of emotional skills has been limited by a lack of validated measurement approaches. This study represents the first formal psychometric evaluation of the use of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) V2.0 as a tool for assessing skills in perceiving, using, understanding and managing emotions following ABI. The sample consisted of 82 participants aged 18-80 years in the postacute phase of recovery (2 months-7 years) after moderate to severe ABI. Participants completed the MSCEIT V2.0 and measures of cognition and mood. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collated from participant interview and medical files. Results revealed deficits across all MSCEIT subscales (approximately 1 SD below the normative mean). Internal consistency was adequate at overall, area, and branch levels, and MSCEIT scores correlated in expected ways with key demographic, clinical, cognitive, and mood variables. MSCEIT performance was related to injury severity and clinician-rated functioning after ABI. Confirmatory factor analysis favored a 3-factor model of EI due to statistical redundancy of the Using Emotions branch. Overall, these findings suggest that the MSCEIT V2.0 is sensitive to emotion processing deficits after moderate to severe ABI, and can yield valid and reliable scores in an ABI sample. In terms of theoretical contributions, our findings support a domain-based, 3-factor approach for characterizing emotion-related abilities in brain-injured individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record

Managing the self‐esteem, employment gaps, and employment quality process: The role of facilitation‐ and understanding‐based emotional intelligence

SummaryThe job search literature addresses characteristics that facilitate reemployment but does not address the management of employment gaps. Building upon prior job search research, we suggest that facilitation‐based emotional intelligence reduces employment gaps through self‐esteem. Further, understanding‐based emotional intelligence moderates the negative relationship between employment gaps and subsequent employment fit. We test these hypotheses employing a multiwave data collection of 157 workers. At Time 1, undergraduate students completed a measure of self‐esteem and a test of facilitation‐ and understanding‐based emotional intelligence using the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test© V2.0. Ten years later (Time 2), the same individuals reported their employment gaps, person–organization fit, and person–job fit. Findings suggest that facilitation‐based emotional intelligence is associated with higher self‐esteem, which in turn leads to reduced employment gaps. Additionally, understanding‐based emotional intelligence moderates the relationship between employment gaps and person–job fit such that low understanding‐based emotional intelligence enhances the negative relationship and high understanding‐based emotional intelligence neutralizes the relationship. This study contributes to the emotional intelligence, career management, and job search literatures by illustrating that emotional intelligence plays a role in preventing employment gaps and managing the difficulties associated with subsequent reemployment.

Relación entre Inteligencia Emocional y salud mental en Orientadores Educativos

Introducción. El objetivo de la presente investigación estuvo dirigido a estudiar la relación de la inteligencia emocional, como capacidad, y la inteligencia emocional, como rasgo con salud mental, en una muestra de orientadores educativos. Método. La muestra ha estado compuesta de 203 orientadores. Los instrumentos utilizados han sido: Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Short Form (TEIQUE-SF) y la Escala de Salud Mental (MH5). En primer lugar, se analizaron las correlaciones entre las puntuaciones correspondientes a todas las variables. Posteriormente se estudiaron las diferencias de medias (t de Student) en función de la etapa educativa y en función del sexo. Finalmente, con el objetivo de explorar las variables que predicen la salud mental se realizó un análisis de regresión lineal múltiple, paso a paso.Resultados. Los resultados evidencian que las relaciones existentes entre la IE como rasgo y la salud mental son más elevadas que las relaciones entre IE como capacidad y salud mental. Por otro lado, se constatan puntuaciones significativamente más elevadas en los orientadores de Educación Secundaria en la variable de inteligencia emocional como capacidad en comprensión emocional. También se constatan puntuaciones significativamente más elevadas en la variable salud mental en los orientadores de Educación Primaria. Igualmente, se constatan puntuaciones significativamente más elevadas en las mujeres en la puntuación de la inteligencia emocional como capacidad en regulación emocional y puntuaciones significativamente más elevadas en la puntuación de la inteligencia emocional como rasgo de personalidad en los hombres. Por último, el análisis de regresión múltiple ha permitido identificar como variable predictora de la salud mental, la inteligencia emocional como rasgo.Discusión. El presente estudio supone uno de los primeros trabajos desarrollados en una muestra de orientadores educativos en los que se analiza la influencia de la inteligencia emocional como rasgo y la inteligencia emocional como capacidad, sobre la salud mental. Además aporta evidencias de validez predictiva de la IE como rasgo sobre un indicador de salud mental.

Different aspects of emotional intelligence of borderline personality disorder

The present study investigated deficiencies in different components of emotional intelligence in borderline personality disorder (BPD). The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) were used to assess EI dimensions. BPD patients (N=85; 69 women; M=33.6years) were compared with Cluster C personality disorder (PD) patients (N=39; 23 women; M=36.6years) and nonpatients (N=69; 44 women; M=35.6years). Compared to the Cluster C PD patients and the nonpatient group, BPD patients displayed only deficits in their ability to understand emotions as measured with the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test. The Emotional Quotient Inventory only revealed deficits in stress management in BPD patients compared to Cluster C PD patients. Our findings suggest that BPD patients have the ability to regulate emotions effectively, but they subjectively experience deficits in emotion regulation and therefore may not use this ability when they need it.

The Impact of Executive Functions and Emotional Intelligence on Iowa Gambling Task Performance: Focus on Right Frontal Lobe Damage.

Decision-making in the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) has been intensively studied regarding both the "hot" and "cold" components. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is a key region involved in processing somatic marker information, though recent findings suggest dorsolateral regions are also important. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is also known as a substrate of executive functions-the cold component of decision-making. However, there is contradictory evidence about the role of executive functions, as well as the hot component of decision-making-emotional intelligence. Previous findings suggest that patients with right frontal lobe lesions find decision-making more problematic in IGT. The goal of this study is to replicate previous findings on IGT performance in patients with dorsolateral lesions compared to controls. We obtained data from patients with right frontal lobe tumors (n = 12), localized in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and healthy controls (n = 21) who undertook the IGT, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), and D-KEFS Color-Word Interference Test. The performance in the IGT, WCST, and EI tests is impaired in the clinical group. At the subgroup level, we found patients had lower EI scores regarding the ability to use "emotions for thinking facilitation". However, we found an interaction between the EI scores regarding the ability "the perception and identification of emotions" and the performance on WCST only in the patient group. This study raises the possibility of identifying components of EI which could be helpful in understanding the impairment of patients with right dorsolateral lesions.

SELF-PERCEIVED EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN LEADERSHIP OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACADEMIC STAFF

Research on effective educational leadership and emotional intelligence is growing. There still remains a gap in the relationship that exists between emotional intelligence and educational leadership especially at higher education institutions such as colleges and universities. The main aim of this study was to identify the self-perceived emotional intelligence in leadership of a university’s administrative academic staff. A total of 20 (out of 26) administrative academic staff participated in this study. Two research instruments that were adapted for this study were Bass and Avolio’s Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ5X Form) and Mayer - Salovey - Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). The findings indicated that the administrative academic staff perceived themselves as exhibiting a highly transformational leadership style as compared to the other two leadership styles, namely, transactional and laissez- faire. The findings also revealed that the administrative academic staff assessed themselves as demonstrating more on managing emotions as compared to the other three emotional branches, namely perceiving emotions, facilitating emotions, and understanding emotions. It also revealed that there was a weak but significant relationship between the transactional leadership relationship and emotional intelligence while the other two leadership styles did not indicate any significant relationship.

Is Emotional Intelligence Impaired in Unaffected Siblings of Patients with Schizophrenia?

Social cognitive deficits have been discussed to be endophenotypes for schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses. The current study aimed to assess emotional intelligence (EI) in unaffected siblings of schizophrenia patients to investigate its potential role as endophenotype for schizophrenia. EI was measured in 56 schizophrenia patients, 57 unaffected siblings, and 127 healthy control subjects by using the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). In addition, non-social cognition was assessed with the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Linear mixed models with compound symmetric correlation structure were used for of the three groups with respect to EI and non-social cognition. Schizophrenia patients showed significantly lower overall EI and performed significantly worse in three out of four MSCEIT branches compared to unaffected siblings and control subjects, whereas the two latter groups had comparable EI levels. Similar performance patterns (patients<unaffected siblings=control subjects) were found with respect to non-social cognition. Solely in the "Tower of London" test, siblings achieved significantly lower task scores compared to control subjects. Based on our results, EI as measured with the MSCEIT does not seem to represent a marker of risk for schizophrenia. Further investigations should concentrate on other EI measures to reassess this finding. (JINS, 2017, 23, 577-583).

Developing an international scoring system for a consensus-based social cognition measure: MSCEIT-managing emotions

Measures of social cognition are increasingly being applied to psychopathology, including studies of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Tests of social cognition present unique challenges for international adaptations. The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, Managing Emotions Branch (MSCEIT-ME) is a commonly-used social cognition test that involves the evaluation of social scenarios presented in vignettes. This paper presents evaluations of translations of this test in six different languages based on representative samples from the relevant countries. The goal was to identify items from the MSCEIT-ME that show different response patterns across countries using indices of discrepancy and content validity criteria. An international version of the MSCEIT-ME scoring was developed that excludes items that showed undesirable properties across countries. We then confirmed that this new version had better performance (i.e. less discrepancy across regions) in international samples than the version based on the original norms. Additionally, it provides scores that are comparable to ratings based on local norms. This paper shows that it is possible to adapt complex social cognitive tasks so they can provide valid data across different cultural contexts.

Social cognition in bipolar disorder: Focus on emotional intelligence

BackgroundThe present study aims to characterize emotional intelligence (EI) variability in a sample of euthymic bipolar disorder (BD) patients through the Mayer- Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). MethodA total of 134 euthymic BD outpatients were recruited and divided into three groups according to the total Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EIQ) score of the MSCEIT, following a statistical criterion of scores 1.5SDs above/below the normative group mean, as follows: a low performance (LP) group (EIQ <85), a normal performance (NP) group (85≤EIQ≤115), and a high performance (HP) group (EIQ >115). Afterwards, main sociodemographic, clinical, functional and neurocognitive variables were compared between the groups. ResultsThree groups were identified: 1) LP group (n=16, 12%), 2) NP group (n=93, 69%) and 3) HP group (n=25, 19%). There were significant differences between the groups in premorbid intelligence quotient (IQ) (p=0.010), axis II comorbidity (p=0.008), subthreshold depressive symptoms (p=0.027), general functioning (p=0.013) and in four specific functional domains: autonomy, occupation, interpersonal relations and leisure time. Significant differences in neurocognitive performance were found between groups with the LP group showing the lowest attainments. LimitationsThe cross-sectional design of the study. ConclusionOur results suggest that EI variability among BD patients, assessed through MSCEIT, is lower than expected. EI could be associated with premorbid IQ, subthreshold depressive symptoms, neurocognitive performance and general functioning. The identification of different profiles of SC may help guide specific interventions for distinct patient subgroups aimed at improving social cognition, neurocognitive performance and psychosocial functioning.

Trait and Ability Emotional Intelligence in Children With ADHD

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine trait and ability emotional intelligence (EI) in children with ADHD. Method: Forty-one children with ADHD (9-11 years) completed two measures of EI—the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version–short form (EQi:YV-Brief) and the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, Youth Research Version (MSCEIT-YRV). Results: Children with ADHD did not differ on total EI scores from the normative data on either the ability or trait EI measures. However, they scored above the group norms on the MSCEIT-YRV subscale of Managing Emotions and lower on Understanding Emotions. On the EQi:YV-Brief, children with ADHD reported significantly lower Interpersonal and Adaptability EI. Conclusion: Children with ADHD are relatively similar to children without ADHD when examining EI scores. However, there is some variability in the EI measures which should be considered when creating intervention programs.

Insight and social cognition in first episode of psychosis

IntroductionImpairment of insight in psychotic disorder is associated with adverse impact in treatment compliance, outcome and social functioning although its underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Social cognition and more specifically Theory of mind have been proposed to be correlated to insight. However, the relationship between both factors is still not well defined.AimsTo study the association between social cognition and insight into mental illness in individuals with early psychosis included in the first episode of psychosis program of Hospital del Mar.MethodsFrom the 94 patients included in the first psychotic episode program between January 2011 and January 2016, thirty-eight patients were evaluated six months after the episode. The three initial items of SUMD (Scale Unawareness of Mental Disorder) were used to measure insight and MSCEIT (Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test) was used to assess social cognition. Linear correlation analysis by Pearson correlation was conducted.ResultsInsight results of SUMD six months after the first episode of psychosis were significantly associated with several subsections of MSCEIT, such as experiential area total punctuation (r = –0.574; P = 0.025), emotional facilitation section (r = –0.633; P = 0.011) and the facial emotion perception task (r = –0.572; P = 0.026).ConclusionsResults suggest an association between insight and emotional perception and facilitation performance in first episode patients, which may suggest a role of social cognition in psychosis insight impairment. Further research to better define the participation of social cognition in insight into psychosis alteration is mandatory to understand the etiology of insight, define treatment targets and consequently improve the disorder prognosis.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

SU19. Effects of N-Acetyl-Cysteine as an Add-on to Standard Treatment on Neurocognition in Early Psychosis

Abstract Background: Schizophrenia is associated with neurocognitive dysfunction already in the early phase of the disease.1 However, cognitive impairments are actually poorly treated by pharmacological interventions, leaving severe problems in functioning.2 Increasing evidence suggest oxidative stress and redox dysregulation play a role in the emergence of psychosis.3 In particular, levels of glutathione (GSH) are lower in chronic schizophrenia.4 In addition, a previous trial with the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) led to negative symptoms reduction in chronic patients.5 Therefore, we explored if NAC had also an impact on neurocognition in early psychosis (EP) patients. Methods: The study was a 6-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of NAC supplementation (2700 mg/d) to standard medications. Neurocognition was assessed at baseline and at the end of treatment with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB),6 excluding the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). Sixty-one patients (31 NAC, 30 placebo) with a diagnostic of psychotic disorder and less than 12 months of antipsychotic treatment were enrolled. Results: We found significant interaction Time × Treatment in favor of NAC on the MCCB processing speed factor and for 2 of 3 processing speed’s tasks (Trail Making A and Verbal Fluency). The improvement in processing speed within the NAC group was correlated with a decrease in negative symptoms. In addition, it was possible to identify a subgroup of patients who responded to NAC treatment considering their biological variables. Indeed, patients having a low peroxidase (GPx) activity at baseline benefited more than others from NAC supplementation in terms of processing speed’s scores. Moreover, in those individuals only, the improvement in processing speed was related to a decrease of the GSH reductase (GR) activity and to a regulation of the balance GPx – GR. Conclusion: Addition of NAC improved processing speed in EP patients, in particular in those who displayed a low basal level of redox dysregulation. Further, larger studies on antioxidant interventions are needed to replicate these findings. This work was supported by the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) “SYNAPSY – The Synaptic Bases of Mental Diseases” financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation, Damm-Etienne Foundation, Alamaya Foundation, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Center of Excellence in Clinical Neuroscience and Psychopharmacological Research (SCDMH82101008006, LJS), and the Weisman family (LJS).