Social Outcomes In Patients Research Articles

Assessment of long-term psychosocial outcomes in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis – the SAPIENCE study protocol

BackgroundN-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a rare neurological autoimmune disease with severe neuropsychiatric symptoms during the acute phase. Despite good functional neurological recovery, most patients continue to experience cognitive, psychiatric, psychological, and social impairments years after the acute phase. However, the precise nature and evolving patterns over time of these long-term consequences remain unclear, and their implications for the well-being and quality of life of predominantly young patients have yet to be thoroughly examined.MethodsSAPIENCE is a European multi-center (n = 3) prospective observational cohort study studying the long-term cognitive, psychiatric, psychological, and social outcome in patients with NMDAR encephalitis. The study consists of three interconnected levels. Level 1 comprises a qualitative interview and focus groups with patients and their caregivers. Level 2 consists of a condensed form of the interview, standardized questionnaires, and a detailed neuropsychological examination of patients. Level 3 involves an online survey that will be open to patients world-wide and explores patient-reported outcomes (PROMs), and patient-reported experiences (PREMs) in association with clinical and cognitive outcomes. Levels 1 to 3 will progressively contribute developing of structured interviews, survey questions, and treatment guidelines by informing one another.DiscussionSAPIENCE is an in-depth study of the long-term effects of NMDAR encephalitis and bridges the gap between standardized assessments and individual patient experiences, intending to improve patient care and to increase awareness of the psychosocial long-term consequences of the disease. Through collaboration of experts in clinical neurology and social and health psychology across Europe, SAPIENCE aims to create online assessment tools and formulate guidelines for patient-centered post-acute care that will help enhance the quality of life for patients and caregivers.

The Role of Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation in Enhancing Comprehensive Cancer Care: A Descriptive Review

Objective: This review aims to highlight the effectiveness of various forms of cancer rehabilitation in improving physical, emotional, and social outcomes for patients with cancer. It evaluates the impact of cancer rehabilitation on physical function, psychological health, and social reintegration while identifying barriers and facilitators in the implementation of cancer rehabilitation programs. Methods: A literature search was conducted from December 2023 to February 2024, using two electronic databases: MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Google Scholar. After screening the titles and abstracts, the study selected 34 articles, including RCTs, clinical trials, observational studies, and systematic reviews. The study did not include letters to the editor, editorials, special and short communications, animal-based research, and non-English language publications. There were no restrictions on geographical distribution, age of the sample population, type, severity, duration, and outcome of cancer, or the year range from which the studies were selected. Results: Rehabilitation interventions were effective in different cancer types, including breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers. These interventions addressed common treatment-related challenges such as fatigue, pain, lymphedema, incontinence, and psychological issues, improving patients' quality of life and physical functioning. However, challenges such as physical limitations, emotional distress, access to care, financial barriers, and coordination of services were frequently noted. This highlights the need for tailored, accessible, and well-coordinated rehabilitation programs. Conclusion: Multidisciplinary and coordinated cancer rehabilitation has the potential to improve mobility, quality of life and physical functioning across various cancer types, but challenges in accessibility and coordination must be addressed.

Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-Carer.

The importance of the quality of life (QOL) of carers has been increasingly recognized as it has a wide range of effects on the psychological, emotional, and social outcomes of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Understanding their QOL is important as it reflects their unique characteristics; however, there have been few studies on this in Korea. This study aimed to translate and validate the Korean version of the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-Carer (PDQ-Carer). This was a methodological study that included a translation process and a cross-sectional investigation. The Korean version of the scale was developed using back translation, semantic adjustment, and pretests. The final version was self-administered by 125 Korean family carers. Cronbach's alpha values were used to assess the internal consistency of the PDQ-Carer. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to validate the translated scale. Exploratory factor analysis identified four factors that accounted for 64.51% of the variance. A modified model using modification indices was found to fit the data well in the confirmatory factor analysis. That factor analysis supported the structure of the original four factors with relocation of several items that reflected Korean culture. Cronbach's alpha values were 0.96 for the total scale, 0.93 for personal and social activities, 0.89 for strain, 0.85 for anxiety and depression, and 0.85 for self-care. This study verified that the Korean version of the PDQ-Carer can be used to acquire important information about the multidimensional aspects of the QOL of Korean carers for patients with PD.

Causative factors, social and surgical outcomes of vesicovaginal fistulas treated via an abdominal transvesical approach: A single-center experience.

To study the demographics, and surgical and social outcomes of patients with fistula repair performed at our hospital. This cross-sectional study included 120 patients with fistula repair performed between 2014 and 2019 in the Urology Department of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar using an open transvesical repair method without omental interposition. Data were collected on patients' demographics, and social and surgical outcomes. Fistula severity was assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). About 80 (66.6%) fistulas were iatrogenic and 40 (33.3%) were ischemic, with 36 (90%) due to obstructed labor. The median age of patients was 36 years (29-40 years). The majority of the patients were multiparous and premenopausal (99; 82.5%). Fifty (56.5%) of the iatrogenic fistulas were due to non-obstetric hysterectomy, and 20 (25%) were due to cesarean hysterectomy. Women had the fistulas for 4-49 weeks before seeking treatment with an average ICIQ score of 18. In all, 73 (73%) of the fistula caused by delivery had involved stillbirths, 4 (3.96%) were early neonatal deaths, and nearly 25 (21%) of patients were divorced. About 114 (95%) of patients were completely cured on discharge. Vesicovaginal fistula is a devastating condition, with a rising trend in iatrogenic fistulas in low-income countries. In the hands of experienced surgeons, trans-abdominal repair without omental interposition shows a high success rate.

Seizure and social outcomes in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).

To investigate the seizure outcome in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and its associated factors. We also investigated the social outcome of these patients. This was a retrospective study. All patients with a diagnosis of JME were studied at the outpatient epilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, from 2008 until 2019. In a phone call to the patients, at least 24 months after their diagnosis at our center, we investigated their current seizure control state and social status. One hundred and thirty-five patients were studied [92 women (68.1%) and 43 men (31.9%)]. Fifty-three patients (39.3%) were seizure-free (of all seizure types) during the past 12 months; 91 patients (67.4%) reported to be free of generalized tonic-clonic seizures. At the time of the follow-up call, 71 patients (52.6%) reported having a college education, 56 patients (41.5%) were employed, 87 patients (64.4%) were married, and 57 patients (42.2%) reported driving a motor vehicle in their routine daily lives. In total, 101 patients (74.8%) reported that their status (generally, and considering all the variables) was better than that it used to be five years ago. We may conclude that JME at tertiary referral centers is not as benign as it was suggested by some authors before. Furthermore, the employment status of patients with JME is significantly worse than that in the corresponding general populations. However, most patients with JME may enjoy marital status and educational levels comparable to those by the general public.

Sleep-Wake and Circadian Disorders after Tick-Borne Encephalitis.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infectious disease affecting the central nervous system. Recently, the occurrence of TBEV infections has steadily increased, reaching all-time high incidence rates in European countries. Up to 50% of patients with TBE present neurological sequelae, among them sleep–wake and circadian disorders (SWCD), which are poorly characterized. The aim of this review is to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of SWCD after TBE. The literature review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The quality of the paper was assessed using a standardized quality assessment. The analysis of SWCD was categorized into four different time intervals and two age groups. The literature search identified 15 studies, five including children and 10 including adults. In children, fatigue was most frequently observed with a prevalence of 73.9%, followed by somnolence/sleepiness, restlessness, and sleep-wake inversion. In adults, tiredness/fatigue was the most reported sequela with a prevalence of 27.4%, followed by extensive daytime sleepiness/somnolence, and insomnia (3.3%). Two studies showed impaired social outcomes in patients after TBE infections. SWCD after TBE in children and adults is a newly recognized sequela. Additional clinical and experimental research is needed to gain more precise insight into the clinical burden of SWCD after TBE and the underlying mechanisms.

Long-term medical and social outcomes of patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

ObjectiveThe aim of the current study was to investigate the long-term outcome in a large cohort of patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). MethodsThis was a longitudinal study (a retrospective database review with a telephone follow-up interview). All patients 18 years of age and older, with a diagnosis of LGS were studied at the outpatient epilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, from 2008 until 2020. The inclusion criteria were: multiple seizure types, characteristic electroencephalographic patterns [either bursts of slow spike-waves or generalized paroxysmal fast activity], with or without intellectual disability. Being lost on follow-up was the only exclusion criterion. Results78 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All the patients were followed for one to 12 years (9.3 ± 2.8 years). In the last follow-up (call), 14 patients (17.9%) were seizure-free for at least 12 months. Tonic seizure at diagnosis was associated with a poor seizure outcome (not seizure-free) (p = 0.045). Four patients (5.1%) reported having high school degree (diploma), four patients (5.1%) were married, and one person (1.3%) reported driving a motor vehicle; none of the patients were employed. ConclusionA minority of patients with LGS (almost one in six patients) may enjoy a seizure-free state in their adulthood. However, very few of them could enjoy a healthy social life. While intellectual dysfunction may not be evident at the onset of the disease, cognitive impairment usually becomes apparent over time, and almost all patients would suffer from poor social outcomes in their adulthood.

Seizure and social outcomes in patients with non-surgically treated temporal lobe epilepsy

ObjectivesTo investigate the seizure outcome with medical treatment in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and its associated factors. We also investigated the social outcome of the patients. MethodsThis was a retrospective study of a prospectively built electronic database of patients with epilepsy. All patients with a diagnosis of TLE were studied at the outpatient epilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, from 2008 until 2019. In a phone call to the patients, at least 24 months after their diagnosis at our center, we investigated their current seizure control and social status. ResultsTwo hundred and twenty-two patients were studied; 101 patients (45.5%) were seizure free. A lower number of the prescribed drugs was the only factor with a significant association with the seizure-free outcome (Odds Ratio: 1.460; p = 0.001). At the time of the phone call, 76 patients (37.6%) reported having a college education, 103 patients (51%) were employed, 146 patients (72.3%) were married, and 81 patients (40%) reported driving a motor vehicle. The employment status, college education, and driving a motor vehicle were significantly associated with a seizure-free outcome status. The social achievements of the patients, who were partially responsive to medical therapy, were significantly worse than those who were seizure free. ConclusionMany patients with TLE may suffer from drug-resistant seizures. Ongoing seizures in these patients may affect their social lives substantially. Seizure reduction (not freedom) is not good enough to help the patients with TLE enjoy a healthy life with satisfactory social achievements.

Evaluation of a surgical treatment algorithm for neglected clubfoot in low-resource settings

PurposeIdiopathic clubfoot affects approximately 1/1000 alive-born infants, of whom 80–91% are born in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs). This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the morphological, functional, and social outcomes in patients with neglected clubfoot in rural Bangladesh, after receiving surgical treatment.MethodsPatients received a posteromedial release (PMR) with or without an additional soft tissue intervention (group 1), a PMR with an additional bony intervention (group 2), or a triple arthrodesis (group 3) according to our surgical algorithm. Patients were followed until two year post-intervention. Evaluation was done using a modified International Clubfoot Study Group Outcome evaluation score and the Laaveg-Ponseti score.ResultsTwenty-two patients with 32 neglected clubfeet (ages 2–24 years) received surgical treatment. Nineteen patients with 29 clubfeet attended follow-up. At two year follow-up an excellent, good, or fair Laaveg-Ponseti score was obtained in 81% (group 1), 80% (group 2), and 0% (group 3) of the patients (p value 0.0038). Age at intervention is inversely correlated with the Laaveg-Ponseti score at two year follow-up (p < 0.0001). All patients attended school or work and were able to wear normal shoes.ConclusionOur treatment algorithm is in line with other surgical algorithms used in LMICs. Our data reconfirms that excellent results can be obtained with a PMR regardless of age. Our algorithm follows a pragmatic approach that takes into account the reality on the ground in many LMICs. Good functional outcomes can be achieved with PMR for neglected clubfoot. Further research is needed to investigate the possible role of triple arthrodesis.

Small Words That Matter: Linguistic Style and Conceptual Disorganization in Untreated First-Episode Schizophrenia.

This study aimed to shed light on the linguistic style affecting the communication discourse in first-episode schizophrenia (FES) by investigating the analytic thinking index in relation to clinical scores of conceptual and thought disorganization (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS-P2 and Thought and Language Index, TLI). Using robust Bayesian modeling, we report three major findings: (1) FES subjects showed reduced analytic thinking, exhibiting a less categorical linguistic style than healthy control (HC) subjects (Bayes factor, BF10 > 1000), despite using the same proportion of function and content words as HCs; (2) the lower the analytic thinking score, the higher the symptoms scores of conceptual disorganization (PANSS-P2, BF = 22.66) and global disorganization of thinking (TLI, BF10 = 112.73); (3) the linguistic style is a better predictor of conceptual disorganization than the cognitive measure of processing speed in schizophrenia (SZ). These findings provide an objectively detectable linguistic style with a focus on Natural Language Processing Analytics of transcribed speech samples of patients with SZ that require no clinical judgment. These findings also offer a crucial insight into the primacy of linguistic structural disruption in clinically ascertained disorganized thinking in SZ. Our work contributes to an emerging body of literature on the psychopathology of SZ using a first-order lexeme-level analysis and a hypothesis-driven approach. At a utilitarian level, this has implications for improving educational and social outcomes in patients with SZ.

Neuropsychological and Social Outcome of Patients Sustaining Traumatic Brain Injury in Cotonou

This inaugural study in Benin was aimed at assessing neuropsychological and behavioural problems of patients with traumatic brain injury managed at the Hubert Koutoukou Maga Teaching hospital in Cotonou, and the impact on their standard of leaving. This was a prospective and cross-cutting study with a descriptive and analytical aim. It was carried out from 1 July to 30 October 2018. The study population included patients over 15 years of age who had experienced TBI. A purposive sampling of 585 patients with TBI was done, of which 142 patients could not be reached by phone while. The mean age of patients was 37.16 ± 13.9 years, with extremes ranging from 16 to 87 years. The most frequent complaints were behavioural disorder (79.5%), headache (63.8%) and memory loss (50.4%). The average duration of post traumatic amnesia was 9.08 ± 38.56 days. Sixty-three patients (68.5%) had post-traumatic amnesia that lasted less than 30 minutes and 25 patients (19.2%) had post-traumatic amnesia that lasted over a month. Neuropsychological disorders were more frequent in patients with severe TBI. Attention disorders and difficulties in elaborating strategies were noticed without any statistically significant difference in mild, moderate as well as severe TBI. Nineteen patients lost their job, thus raising the unemployment rate in our sample from 6% to 21%. Among the 100 patients (75%) that recovered their job, 14% had medical follow-up and 10% returned to part-time work. Salary remained unchanged for 61.2% of TBI patients.

A randomized study on the effect of tDCS on cognitive function in schizophrenia

Psychiatrist Dr Tomiki Sumiyoshi is the Director of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders at National Centre of Neurology and Psychiatry, with extensive experience in clinical and basic research on schizophrenia and mood disorders. His deep interest in schizophrenia is driven by his background investigating neurobiological substrates responsible for cognitive impairment, but also in discovering effective therapeutics to facilitate social outcomes in patients with psychiatric conditions. Sumiyoshi explains that the connection between psychiatric disorders and cognitive impairment is well-established. Yet, limited efforts have been made towards implementing novel approaches that can truly help psychiatric patients to overcome this impairment, and hence live a normal life. He believes it is critical that current research needs to shift its focus on investigating innovative methods such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) that can facilitate cognitive enhancement in patients with schizophrenia.

Observed Outcomes: An Approach to Calculate the Optimum Number of Psychiatric Beds

The number of psychiatric beds, in most developed countries, has decreased progressively since the late 1950s. Many clinicians believe that this reduction has gone too far. But how can we determine the number of psychiatric beds a mental health system needs? While the population health approach has advantages over the normative approach, it makes assumptions about optimal and minimum duration of hospitalization required for various psychiatric disorders. In this paper, we describe a naturalistic approach that estimates the required number of psychiatric beds by comparing the bed levels at which negative outcomes develop in different jurisdictions. We hypothesize that there will be a threshold below which negative outcomes will be seen across jurisdictions. We predict that hospital key performance indices will be more sensitive to bed reductions than the clinical and social outcomes of patients. The observed outcome approach can complement other approaches to determining bed numbers at the national and local levels, and should be a priority for future health services research.

How does visual context influence recognition of facial emotion in people with traumatic brain injury?

ABSTRACTObjective: The current study assessed recognition of facial emotional stimuli following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and examined whether performance may be influenced by emotional visual scenes.Methods: Thirty-five patients with moderate-to-severe TBI and 55 matched controls completed the novel Angers Facial Expression in Context Task (AFECT), designed to examine recognition of facial expressions of basic emotions in both congruent and incongruent emotional visual contexts.Results: In comparison with non-brain damaged adults, patients with TBI performed more poorly and slowly on both contextual conditions (congruent vs. incongruent) of the AFECT.Conclusion: Taken together, these results raise the possibility that adults with TBI may not fully benefit from supportive contextual cues. Also, they stress the importance of using emotional stimuli that better capture affect processing in real-world contexts and open up new avenues to better understand negative social outcomes in patients with TBI.

Cost-related nonadherence to prescription medications in Canada: a scoping review.

PurposeThe evidence is emerging that prescription medications are the topmost drivers of increasing health care costs in Canada. The financial burden of medications may lead individuals to adopt various rationing or restrictive behaviors, such as cost-related nonadherence (CRNA) to medications. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the type, extent, and quantity of research available on CRNA to prescription drugs in Canada, and evaluate existing gaps in the literature.MethodsThe study was conducted using a scoping review methodology. Six databases were searched from inception till June 2017. Articles were considered for inclusion if they focused on extent, determinants, and consequences of CRNA to prescription medication use in the Canadian context. Variables extracted for data charting included author(s), year of publication, study design, the focus of the article, sample size, population characteristics, and key outcomes or results.ResultsThis review found 37 studies that offered evidence on the extent, determinants, and consequences of CRNA to prescription medications in Canada. Depending on the population characteristics and province, the prevalence of CRNA varies between 4% and 36% in Canada. Canadians who are young (between 18 and 64 years), without drug insurance, have lower income or precarious or irregular employment, and high out-of-pocket expenditure on drugs are most likely to face CRNA to their prescriptions. The evidence that CRNA has negative health and social outcomes for patients is insufficient. Literature regarding the influence of prescribing health care professionals on patients’ decisions to stop taking medications is limited. There is also a dearth of literature that explores patients’ decisions and strategies to manage their prescription cost burden.ConclusionMore evidence is required to make a strong case for national Pharmacare which can ensure universal, timely, and burden-free access to prescription medications for all Canadians.

Topographical Disorientation in Patients with Brain Impairment

The paper describes symptoms, pathogenesis and variants of topographic disorientation. The restorative and compensatory rehabilitation strategies in topographical disorientation are reviewed. It has been concluded that clarification of the variant of topographic disorientation and selection of optimal neurorehabilitation strategies is of great importance for improving medical and social outcomes in patients with stroke and other focal brain lesions.

Community treatment orders and social outcomes for patients with psychosis: a 48-month follow-up study.

Community treatment orders (CTOs) are widely used internationally despite a lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness. Most effectiveness studies are relatively short (12-months or less) and focus on clinical symptoms and service data, while a little attention is given to patients' social outcomes and broader welfare. We tested the association between the duration of CTO intervention and patients' long-term social outcomes. A sub-sample (n=114) of community-based patients from the Oxford Community Treatment Order Evaluation Trial (OCTET) were interviewed 48 months after randomisation. Multivariate regression models were used to examine the association between the duration of the CTO intervention and social outcomes as measured by the social network schedule, Objective Social Outcomes Index, Euro-Qol EQ-5D-3L (EQ-5D), and Oxford Capabilities Questionnaire for Mental Health. No significant association was found between the duration of CTO intervention and social network size (IRR=0.996, p=.63), objective social outcomes (B=-0.003, p=.77), health-related quality of life (B=0.001, p=.77), and capabilities (B=0.046, p=.41). There were no between-group differences in social outcomes when outcomes were stratified by original arm of randomisation. Patients had a mean of 10.2 (SD=5.9) contacts in their social networks, 42% of whom were relatives. CTO duration was not associated with improvements in patients' social outcomes even over the long term. This study adds to growing concerns about CTO effectiveness and the justification for their continued use.

Social Outcomes after High Dose Chemotherapy with Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

Introduction:Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the largest subgroup of malignant lymphoma. Prognosis has increased after introduction of rituximab, and today more than 80% of the patients will achieve partial or complete remission after standard immunochemotherapy. However, approximately 30% will either present with refractory disease or develop relapse. The standard approach for younger patients with relapsed disease and without major comorbidity is salvage treatment followed by high dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). This potentially curative treatment is toxic with many side effects, and social outcomes for patients need to be investigated.Objectives:Patients with relapse of de novo DLBCL and transformed indolent lymphoma (TIL) were included. The aim was to describe social outcome after ASCT in form of return to work (RTW).Methods: Patients with B-cell lymphoma in the period 2000-2012, who received ASCT as relapse treatment, were extracted from the Danish National Lymphoma Registry. Medical records were reviewed for clinical, pathological, and treatment information. Individual information on socioeconomic factors and social outcomes were achieved by cross-reference to national administrative registries. Patients were included in RTW analyses, if they received public welfare benefits in at least four weeks including the week of stem cell reinfusion. RTW was defined as four consecutive weeks without receiving welfare benefits; retirement, disability pension and death was regarded as competing events. Patients were followed until RTW, emigration, permanent withdrawal from the labour market, death, or December 31, 2015, whichever came first.Results: A total of 369 patients were identified. At the time of ASCT, 164 (44%) patients received public welfare benefits in form of either sick leave or unemployment benefits. Furthermore, 61 (17%) received disability pension or similar, 102 (28%) received old age pension, and 41(11%) patients did not receive any welfare benefits.The 164 patients receiving sick leave or unemployment benefits were included in the analysis. Median age was 54 years (25-65), 16 patients were above the age of 60, and 104 were male (64%). A total of 54 patients had primary refractory disease; median time to relapse was 1.7 years. Both diagnoses were equally represented with 78 (48%) patients with TIL, IPI score at relapse was available for 118 patients, 22 % had a score of high-intermediate or high. Furthermore, socioeconomic factors at time of relapse showed, that 36 (22%) patients had only basic (mandatory) education, 39 (24%) patients lived alone and 60 (37%) patients had a low disposable income, corresponding to the 1st or 2nd quintile of the Danish population with the same gender and in the same age-group. Most of the patients, n=118 (72%), did not have comorbidities, but 46 patients had one or more at time of relapse. (Table 1)Median time to return to work was 420 days, ranging from 13 to 909 days. One year after year after ASCT, 57 (35%) patients had returned to work, 15 (10%) received disability pension, and 7 (4%) received old age pension. A total of 48 (29%) were still on sick leave, and 37 (23%) had died. (Figure 1)Conclusion: In this nationwide population based study we found that after one year only 35% of the patients had returned to work, 14% had been retired and 23% had died. This emphasizes that this patient group is at risk of impaired social status. There is an unmet need of focused social rehabilitation. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Cognitive bias salience in patients with schizophrenia in relation to social functioning: A four‐case observation study

Neurocognition and social cognition are the core deficits influencing social outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. These deficits are present in the prodromal phase, throughout the illness and in first-degree relatives. They are considered in the framework of neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative models as well as candidates for endophenotypes of schizophrenia. Four clinical cases with patients reflecting different cognitive profiles were chosen to demonstrate heterogeneity of cognitive biases and their influence on social function in vivo. The patients had undergone a number of neurocognitive and social cognitive measures. Better functioning was observed in patients with less affected domains of emotional processing and theory of mind, while neurocognitive statuses were incongruent to levels of social functioning. Further investigation on large samples concerning capacity for empathy and its role in social functioning is needed.

From clinical cases to clinical research: Neurocognition and social cognition in schizophrenia

IntroductionNeurocognition and social cognition are the core deficits influencing social outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. These deficits are present in prodromal phase and throughout the illness, in first-degree relatives and are considered in the framework of neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative models.MethodFour clinical cases with patients reflecting different cognitive profiles were chosen to demonstrate heterogeneity of cognitive biases and their influence on the social function en vivo. The patients have undergone a number of neurocognitive and social cognitive measures.ResultsIn these four patients, we would like to highlight the dissociation of neurocognitive deficits, clinical manifestations and social functioning. Social cognitive measures revealed heterogeneity of biases in different domains. As a result of our observation, we can hypothesize that better social functioning was achieved by patients with better abilities to discriminate negative emotions and states of mind in others.ConclusionDespite certain limitations of case-report studies, it is hard not to point out heterogeneity and incoherence of social and neurocognition. We assume that intact domains of Processing of Emotions and Theory of Mind predispose to better social functioning, while it's hard to trace this connection to neurocognition. This result needs to be challenged on large samples in future research, concerning emotionality in Theory of Mind and capacity for empathy and its’ role in social functioning.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.