Efficacy of social cognition and interaction training in outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: randomized controlled trial

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Joanna M. Fiszdon, VA Connecticut Healthcare System; H. Drew Dixon, Mercer University; Charlie Davidson, Emory University; David L. Roberts, University of Texas San Antonio; David L. Penn, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; Morris D. Bell, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-08-04
• Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2023 Fiszdon, Dixon, Davidson, Roberts, Penn and Bell.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1217735
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
• Volume: 14
• Start Page: 1217735
• End Page: 1217735
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was funded by VA Rehabilitation Research and Development grant #D4628W to JF.
• Keywords: INSTRUMENT; PERFORMANCE; PEOPLE; psychosis; schizophrenia; SCIT; INTERVENTION; SCALE; training; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Psychiatry; rehabilitation; randomized controlled trial; MEDIATOR; PSYCHOSIS; social cognition; AFFECT RECOGNITION; COMMUNITY; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Psychology, Social; Psychology, Cognitive

Abstract

Given the relationship between social cognition and functional outcome in schizophrenia, a number of social cognitive interventions have been developed, including Social Cognition Interaction Training (SCIT), a group-based, comprehensive, manualized intervention. In the current trial, we examined SCIT efficacy as well as potential moderators of treatment effects. Fifty-one outpatients were randomized to SCIT or a wait-list-control (WLC), with assessments of social cognition, neurocognition, self-report, symptoms, and functioning conducted at baseline and end of the active phase. Relative to WLC, we did not find significant improvements for SCIT on neurocognition, social cognition, self-report, or symptoms, though there was a trend-level, medium effect favoring the SCIT condition on interpersonal and instrumental role function. Post-hoc analyses indicated that baseline neurocognition did not impact degree of social cognitive or functional change. Shorter duration of illness was significantly associated with better post-training neurocognition and self-esteem and, at trend-level with better symptoms and social functioning. We discuss the importance of outcome measure selection and the need for continued evaluation of potential treatment moderators in order to better match people to existing treatments. Clinical trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier NCT00587561.