The relationship between theory of mind deficits and neurocognition in first episode-psychosis.

Research suggests that theory of mind (ToM) deficits are related to chronic psychosis and to first-episode psychosis (FEP) independently of other neurocognition domains. The aim of this study was to measure the differences in ToM area in a Spanish population of FEP sample (N = 32) and in a healthy control group (N = 32). A further aim was to describe the relationship between different domains of neurocognition, psychotic symptoms and social functioning with ToM in this sample. ToM was assessed with the MASC task. Estimated IQ with a short version of the WAIS III, Rey-Osterrieth Complex figure, Trail Making Test, Stroop test and Wisconsin Carting Sorting test were used to assess neurocognition. Psychotic symptoms were assessed with Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) in both groups and with PANSS scale in FEP group. GAF and Cannon-Spoor scales were used to measure social functioning before and after onset of psychosis. FEP showed important deficits in ToM domain compared to controls. A worse executive functioning was associated with worse scores in ToM task. However, no relation was found between positive or negative psychotic symptoms and ToM or social functioning and ToM. In our sample neurocognition tests were strongly related to ToM domain independently of other variables.

Differences in Facial Emotion Recognition between First Episode Psychosis, Borderline Personality Disorder and Healthy Controls.

BACKGROUND: Facial emotion recognition (FER) is essential to guide social functioning and behaviour for interpersonal communication. FER may be altered in severe mental illness such as in psychosis and in borderline personality disorder patients. However, it is unclear if these FER alterations are specifically related to psychosis. Awareness of FER alterations may be useful in clinical settings to improve treatment strategies. The aim of our study was to examine FER in patients with severe mental disorder and their relation with psychotic symptomatology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Socio-demographic and clinical variables were collected. Alterations on emotion recognition were assessed in 3 groups: patients with first episode psychosis (FEP) (n = 64), borderline personality patients (BPD) (n = 37) and healthy controls (n = 137), using the Degraded Facial Affect Recognition Task. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Structured Interview for Schizotypy Revised and Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences scales were used to assess positive psychotic symptoms. WAIS III subtests were used to assess IQ. RESULTS: Kruskal-Wallis analysis showed a significant difference between groups on the FER of neutral faces score between FEP, BPD patients and controls and between FEP patients and controls in angry face recognition. No significant differences were found between groups in the fear or happy conditions. There was a significant difference between groups in the attribution of negative emotion to happy faces. BPD and FEP groups had a much higher tendency to recognize happy faces as negatives. There was no association with the different symptom domains in either group. CONCLUSIONS: FEP and BPD patients have problems in recognizing neutral faces more frequently than controls. Moreover, patients tend to over-report negative emotions in recognition of happy faces. Although no relation between psychotic symptoms and FER alterations was found, these deficits could contribute to a patient's misinterpretations in daily life.

COMT haplotypes, catecholamine metabolites in plasma and clinical response in schizophrenic and bipolar patients.

AIM: We examined the association of COMT haplotypes and plasma metabolites of catecholamines in relation to the clinical response to antipsychotics in schizophrenic and bipolar patients. PATIENTS & METHODS: We studied 165 patients before and after four weeks of treatment, and 163 healthy controls. We assessed four COMT haplotypes and the plasma concentrations of HVA, DOPAC and MHPG. RESULTS: Bipolar patients: haplotypes are associated with age at onset and clinical evolution. In schizophrenic patients, an haplotype previously associated with increased risk, is related to better response of negative symptoms. CONCLUSION: Haplotypes would be good indicators of the clinical status and the treatment response in bipolar and schizophrenic patients. Larger studies are required to elucidate the clinical usefulness of these findings.

The new questionnaire health-related quality of life for eating disorders showed good validity and reliability.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the development and investigate the psychometric properties of a new instrument to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for individuals with an eating disorder (ED). METHODS: Seven focus groups were convened and an extensive literature review was carried out to generate the items. The first draft of the questionnaire was pilot tested. Three hundred twenty-four ED patients took part in the final field study. The 12-Item Short Form Health Survey, the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and two items from the Eating Disorders Inventory-2 also were applied to examine the concurrent validity. Factor analysis, item scale correlation correcting for overlap, test-retest, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, known-groups validation, and the sensitivity of the questionnaire in different populations also were examined. RESULTS: The final Health-Related Quality of Life in Eating Disorders (HeRQoLED) questionnaire consisted of 50 items. Principal axis factor analysis identified eight subscales. Concurrent validity showed correlations >.40 with the criteria measures. Excellent reliability and stability were obtained. The HeRQoLED was sensitive in discriminating both between known-different groups and from the general population. CONCLUSION: The results provide evidence of the good psychometric properties of the new HeRQoLED questionnaire, except for one domain, which had to be eliminated.