Characterizing personal recovery in severe mental illness: French psychometric validation of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR-Fr).

OBJECTIVE: The support of the personal recovery of people with lived experience of mental illness is a major issue in clinical practice. Thus, a valid instrument to assess personal recovery is needed. The present study aimed to validate the French translation of the 22-item Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR-Fr). METHOD: A convenience sample of 222 participants reporting a severe mental illness diagnosis was recruited online. Psychometric properties of the QPR-Fr were evaluated. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for structural validity. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed. To test for convergent validity, we conducted multiple linear regression analysis to explore the QPR-Fr associations with psychological distress and the CHIME framework (with Connectedness, Hope and optimism about the future, Identity, Meaning in life, and Empowerment) proxy measures (perceived social support, hope, self-esteem, quality of life, and empowerment). RESULTS: An adequate fit was found for a 19-item unidimensional factor structure. Internal consistency was excellent. Test reliability was good. The QPR-Fr total score was significantly positively associated with quality of life, hope, self-esteem, and social support satisfaction and negatively associated with psychological distress. No significant association was found with social support availability nor with empowerment. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study provides additional data to support the cross-cultural validity of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery. The QPR-Fr is a valid and reliable tool to assess personal recovery. Practitioners could use the QPR-Fr to assess personal recovery in collaboration with people with lived experience. Convergent validity with CHIME proxy measures supports the validity of the CHIME framework in a French cultural context. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Promoting Intimate Relationships in Mental Illness: A Systematic Review of Interventions.

Although persons with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) express a need for intimate relations with others, they still suffer from a severe lack of social participation in this domain. However, these unmet needs have received little attention until recently. This study reviews interventions that aim to facilitate the development and the maintenance of intimate relationships (IR) of persons with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Studies published in Scopus, PubMed, EBSCO (Psych INFO, Psych ARTICLES, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection) from January 1, 2000, to December, 2021, were screened. The search using terms referring to "schizophrenia", "bipolar disorder", "major depression", "IR" and "interventions" revealed 11 studies. Among them, 10 reported interventions for persons with depression, including 9 for couple therapy. Most interventions targeted satisfaction with couple relationships as the main therapeutic objective. Heterogeneity in study design precludes any firm conclusions about their efficacy. Interestingly, only one intervention focused on single persons interested in developing IR. The results highlight the lack of interventions: (i) aimed at promoting IR, (ii) designed for single persons, and (iii) targeting persons with psychotic disorders. This result may reflect the persisting stigmatization of persons with psychotic disorders, and the taboo associated with the IR and sexuality of persons with mental illness. Further studies are needed to develop inclusive interventions promoting the development of IR in persons with mental illness.

When mental health care is stigmatizing: A participative study in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVES: Mental health care has been identified as a major source of mental illness stigmatization. Detailed information about these stigmatization experiences is thus needed to reduce stigma in mental health practices. The study aimed to (a) identify the most relevant stigmatizing situations in mental health care encountered by users with schizophrenia and their families; (b) characterize the relative importance of these situations in terms of frequency, experienced stigmatization, and associated suffering; and (c) identify contextual and individual factors associated with these experiences. METHOD: An online survey was conducted in France among users and family members to characterize situations of stigmatization in mental health care and identify associated factors. The survey content was first developed from a participative perspective, through a focus group including users. RESULTS: A total of 235 participants were included in the survey: 59 participants with schizophrenia diagnosis, 96 with other psychiatric diagnoses, and 80 family members. The results revealed 15 relevant situations with different levels of frequency, stigmatization, and suffering. Participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia experienced more situations of stigmatization, with a higher frequency. Moreover, contextual factors were strongly associated with experienced stigmatization, including recovery-oriented practices (negatively associated) and measures without consent (positively associated). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These situations, as well as associated contextual factors, could be targeted to reduce stigmatization and related suffering in mental health practices. Results strongly underscore the potential of recovery-oriented practice as an instrument to fight stigma in mental health care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Part of the solution yet part of the problem: factors of schizophrenia stigma in mental health professionals.

BACKGROUND: Stigma is highly prejudicial to persons with schizophrenia, their families, the society and the health care system. Mental health professionals (MHP) are considered to be one of the main sources of schizophrenia stigma. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to identify individual and contextual factors associated with stigma in MHP in its three dimensions (stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination, Fiske, 1998). METHODS: An online survey was conducted with specific measures of MHP stigma (stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination). Four categories of potential associated factors were also measured: sociodemographic characteristics, contextual characteristics (e.g., Work setting), individual characteristics (e.g., Profession, Recovery-oriented practices) and theoretical beliefs (e.g., Biological beliefs, Perceived similarities, Continuum versus Categorical beliefs). RESULTS: Responses of 357 MHP were analysed. Factors that were the most strongly associated with MHP stigma were Perceived similarities, Categorical beliefs, Biological beliefs, Recovery-oriented practice and Work setting (independent practice). Conversely, Gender, Specific trainings in stigma or recovery and Cognitive aetiology beliefs showed no association with any of MHP stigma dimension. Remaining factors show associations with a weak effect size. CONCLUSIONS: The survey results suggest that MHP stigma is more influenced by individual factors such as theoretical beliefs and recovery-oriented practices than contextual factors. These original results provide perspectives for reducing stigma in mental health practices.Key pointsMental health professionals (MHP) considering they share similarities with persons with schizophrenia or believing that schizophrenia is not a discrete social category but rather the extreme on a continuum between 'normal' and 'pathologic' reported less stigmatisation.MHP holding higher professional utility beliefs and using recovery-oriented practice reported fewer stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination.Other factors such as age, academic level, contact frequency, familiarity and multidisciplinary practice show associations with a weak effect size.

Social cognition in neuropsychology: A nationwide survey revealing current representations and practices.

As a key domain of cognition, social cognition abilities are altered in a wide range of clinical groups. Accordingly, many clinical tests and theories of social cognition have been developed these last decades. Contrasting this abundant development from a research perspective, recent evidence suggests that social cognition remains rarely addressed from a clinial perspective. The aim of the present research was to characterize the current practices, representations, and needs linked to social cognition from the perspective of professional neuropsychologists and graduate students. A nationwide survey allowed us to determine the classical field conception of social cognition and its associated symptoms or notions. It also allowed us to quantify practice activities and the use of the different clinical tools available. This study revealed that neuropsychologists lack confidence regarding social cognition assessment and its rehabilitation, and that students are in demand for more knowledge and training. Suggestions of change in practices and dissemination of knowledge are discussed. Considering the importance of social cognition, an extension of initial and continuous training alongside an enrichment of interactions between researchers and clinicians were key recommendations to formulate, as well as the need for a consensual lexicon of current concepts.

Schizophrenia stigma in mental health professionals and associated factors: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The consequences of schizophrenia stigma are numerous and highly damaging to individuals, their families, the health care system and society. Mental health professionals (MHP) are considered to be one of the main sources of stigmatization. OBJECTIVES: To identify the characteristics of MHP stigma in schizophrenia in comparison with other psychiatric disorders, the specificities of MHP compared with other social groups, and associated factors. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched multiple electronic databases for articles: (i) reporting original data published in English in peer-reviewed journals, (ii) reporting quantitative data with statistical analysis, (iii) assessing stigma in a broad sense, and (iv) including samples composed only of MHP. RESULTS: A total of 38 articles published from 1999 to 2019 and involving 10,926 MHP fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Studies showed that schizophrenia is the most stigmatized mental illnesses in MHP, despite recent results suggesting that borderline personality disorder and substance abuse may be more stigmatized. In comparison with other social groups, MHP reported less dangerousness beliefs and more positive beliefs regarding pharmacological treatment. Nevertheless, results were less consistent regarding prognosis and desire for social distance. Age, education level, type of mental health profession, or length of practice were associated factors that showed inconsistent relations with stigma. Work setting and biological causal beliefs were more clearly associated with MHP stigma. CONCLUSION: These findings provide strong support for the need to conduct specific research on schizophrenia stigma in MHP and the importance of controlling for several variables to identify predictors of stigma.

How continuum beliefs can reduce stigma of schizophrenia: The role of perceived similarities.

Growing evidence has shown continuum beliefs as a promising tool to reduce psychiatric stigma in the general population, but data still lack regarding mechanisms underlying this effect. This study aims at testing the hypothesis that continuum beliefs affect public stigma and self-stigma by increasing perceived similarities between oneself and people with schizophrenia. Perceiving such similarities may reduce public stigma and increase self-stigma in the general population. The current study was preregistered on OSF. Data were collected via an on-line survey (N = 565). Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental conditions. Continuum beliefs were induced with short videos supporting either a continuum viewpoint of schizophrenia, a categorial viewpoint of schizophrenia, or a neutral video. A scale of Perceived similarities between oneself and people with schizophrenia was administered. Public stigma was measured with an Essentialism scale and Self-stigma with a scale of self-stereotype association. Mediation analyses showed that the effects of categorial and continuum beliefs on essentialism and self-stereotype association were mediated by perceived similarities. Our results suggest that continuum beliefs about schizophrenia act as a recategorization mechanism, by enhancing perceived similarities with the stereotyped group.

How internalised stigma reduces self-esteem in schizophrenia: the crucial role of off-line metacognition.

Introduction: Stigma is widely recognised as a major barrier to recovery. In schizophrenia, internalised stigma (IS) strongly impacts self-esteem, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain poorly understood. In this study, we suggest that IS alters self-esteem by leading people to perceive their cognitive functioning as inefficient. We investigated whether off-line metacognitive complaints mediate the effect of IS on self-esteem in schizophrenia.Methods: We included 78 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. IS was measured with the Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness scale, self-esteem by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, and off-line metacognitive complaints with the Subjective Scale to Investigate Cognition in Schizophrenia.Results: Mediation analysis revealed that the effect of IS on self-esteem was mediated by off-line metacognitive complaints.Conclusion: Results suggest that IS reduces self-esteem by negatively impacting metacognition, such as perception of cognitive difficulties. We suggest that taking metacognition into account in the form of metacognitive complaints may be relevant in interventions aiming at reducing IS in psychosis.

What are the specificities of social cognition in schizophrenia? A cluster-analytic study comparing schizophrenia with the general population.

While social cognition (SC) is widely recognized as being impaired in schizophrenia, little is known about the potential heterogeneity in individuals' functioning. Using a wide range of SC measures and a cluster-analytic approach, we compared SC profiles in the general population and in people with schizophrenia. A total of 131 healthy controls and 101 participants with schizophrenia were included. Groups were compared on sociodemographic, neurocognition, anxiety and depressive mood variables. Three profiles were identified in healthy controls: one with good SC abilities (Homogeneous SC group) and two with specific weaknesses in complex Facial Emotion Recognition (Low FER group) or Affective Theory of Mind (Low AToM group). However, these patterns were not found in participants with schizophrenia, who were characterized rather by levels of SC functioning (i.e., Low, Medium and High SC groups). Importantly, while the High SC group (47.9% of the sample) exhibited normal performances, the two others were underpinned by different pathological processes (i.e., alexithymia for Medium SC group or neurocognition dysfunctioning for Low SC group). These results have important implications for future research as well as for clinical practice regarding assessment methodology and therapeutic interventions.

Toward a Two-Dimensional Model of Social Cognition in Clinical Neuropsychology: A Systematic Review of Factor Structure Studies.

OBJECTIVE: Social cognition has received growing interest in many conditions in recent years. However, this construct still suffers from a considerable lack of consensus, especially regarding the dimensions to be studied and the resulting methodology of clinical assessment. Our review aims to clarify the distinctiveness of the dimensions of social cognition. METHOD: Based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements, a systematic review was conducted to explore the factor structure of social cognition in the adult general and clinical populations. RESULTS: The initial search provided 441 articles published between January 1982 and March 2017. Eleven studies were included, all conducted in psychiatric populations and/or healthy participants. Most studies were in favor of a two-factor solution. Four studies drew a distinction between low-level (e.g., facial emotion/prosody recognition) and high-level (e.g., theory of mind) information processing. Four others reported a distinction between affective (e.g., facial emotion/prosody recognition) and cognitive (e.g., false beliefs) information processing. Interestingly, attributional style was frequently reported as an additional separate factor of social cognition. CONCLUSIONS: Results of factor analyses add further support for the relevance of models differentiating level of information processing (low- vs. high-level) from nature of processed information (affective vs. cognitive). These results add to a significant body of empirical evidence from developmental, clinical research and neuroimaging studies. We argue the relevance of integrating low- versus high-level processing with affective and cognitive processing in a two-dimensional model of social cognition that would be useful for future research and clinical practice. (JINS, 2018, 24, 391-404).

[Towards an Understanding of Stigma: What is the Stereotype Associated with Schizophrenia]. / Vers une compréhension de la stigmatisation : quel est le stéréotype associé à la schizophrénie ?

Objectives Stigmatization of people suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorder relies on the existence of a stereotype which is associated with a social category, here schizophrenia. The short report's aim is to briefly synthesize the recent literature about the content of the stereotype associated with schizophrenia, and to suggest some perspectives for future studies, on the basis of recent advances in the domain.Methods First, we present the theoretical concepts of stigma and stereotype. Second, we propose a brief synthesis of the recently published articles focusing on the content of schizophrenia stereotype in the general population, in English and in French.Results The stereotype associated with mental illness is clearly negative. The most common model in the literature assumes 4 factors in the content of stereotype: attribution of responsibility in the condition, dangerousness, poor prognosis, unpredictability and incompetence in social roles. If the stereotype could vary among countries, it is clearly associated with desire for social distance and discrimination. The stereotype also varies among mental illnesses. Compared with bipolar disorders and autism, schizophrenia focuses the most negative aspects of mental illness stereotype, especially in terms of dangerousness and social distance.Conclusion The study of stereotype, though rapidly growing, still raises questions about the validity of commonly used models in the psychiatric literature, and may benefit from further specific studies. Social psychology models and methods appear to be a promising perspective. The production of data, useful for users, families as well as for professionals may require multidisciplinarity for future projects.

Social cognition according to cognitive impairment in different clinical phenotypes of multiple sclerosis.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between social cognition (SC) and cognitive impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). A prospective study was conducted in 60 PwMS, 30 with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 15 with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and 15 with primary progressive MS (PPMS), and in healthy subjects (HS). All subjects were assessed by the Bordeaux Social Cognition Evaluation Protocol (PECS-B) (facial emotion recognition, theory of mind, emotional awareness and cognitive and affective alexithymia), by a large neuropsychological battery and by questionnaires (depression and anxiety). 43.3% of PwMS were impaired for at least one SC test. The proportion of PwMS with at least two impaired SC tests was similar in all three phenotypes (20%). Mean scores differed significantly between PwMS and HS only for the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, a test of Theory of Mind (ToM). ANOVA analyses showed an effect of phenotype on emotional awareness scores with lower scores in PPMS as compared to RRMS. ToM performance was significantly correlated (r 2 = 0.56) with executive functions, working memory and episodic memory scores. SC impairment was found in all phenotypes and was more prominent in cognitively impaired MS patients. Executive functions, and working and episodic memory performance accounts for approximately 50% of ToM performance. Emotional awareness is more impaired in progressive MS.

Associations between self-esteem, anxiety and depression and metacognitive awareness or metacognitive knowledge.

This study explored in a non-clinical sample the associations between self-esteem, anxiety and depression symptoms and metacognitive awareness or metacognitive knowledge. Higher metacognitive awareness scores measured during the neuropsychological tasks were positively associated with higher depression scores in the social cognition test. Metacognitive knowledge score measured independently of ongoing neuropsychological tasks was positively associated with lower self-esteem, higher anxiety (state or trait) and depression scores.

Neurocognitive insight and executive functioning in schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION: This study explored whether integrity of executive functioning is required for good neurocognitive insight (NI) in subjects with schizophrenia. METHODS: NI was measured by subtracting executive difficulties (errors in the Modified Card Sorting Task) from executive cognitive complaints (Subjective Scale to Investigate Cognition in Schizophrenia) in 40 outpatients with schizophrenia and 42 normal controls. The schizophrenia sample was a priori divided into two subgroups on the basis of executive level. Multivariate analyses were conducted to compare groups and to control for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Only the schizophrenia dysexecutive subgroup had a poorer NI compared to normal controls. Group differences remained significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors (education, depression, anxiety and self-esteem). CONCLUSION: These results provide support for the hypothesis that executive dysfunctioning is a limiting factor for NI, independently from depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Cognitive insight in schizophrenia: the missing link between insight and neurocognitive complaint?

The aim of this study was to explore the associations between cognitive insight, clinical insight, and neurocognitive complaint in a sample of 54 outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Cognitive insight assessed using the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) was not associated with clinical insight assessed using the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder. Associations were found between the BCIS scores and the neurocognitive complaints assessed using the Subjective Scale to Investigate Cognition in Schizophrenia. A high level of neurocognitive complaints was positively associated with self-reflectiveness and negatively associated with self-certainty about beliefs and judgments. These results provide further support for the construct validity of the BCIS. The data also suggest that cognitive insight and neurocognitive complaint are close constructs that should be differentiated from awareness of having a mental illness.

Self-perceived cognitive deficits and occupational outcome in persons with schizophrenia.

A two-year prospective follow-up study was used to explore whether self-perceived cognitive deficits (SPCD) predict occupational outcome in persons with schizophrenia. Cognitive complaints were assessed using the Scale to Investigate Cognition in Schizophrenia (SSTICS) in persons with schizophrenia requesting disability status. A higher level of SPCD was associated with better occupational outcome, independently from other characteristics. Persons with better social functioning may have a higher level of metacognition allowing a greater awareness of their cognitive difficulties. Measures of cognitive complaints should be complemented by objective testing to assess potential for vocational rehabilitation.

Preserved awareness of their cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia: convergent validity of the SSTICS.

This study aimed to examine the convergent validity of the SSTICS. The association between the SSTICS and the five-factor model of the PANSS was also examined. One hundred and seventy-six schizophrenia-spectrum disorder patients were recruited. A correlation analysis was performed. The SSTICS score correlated with the score on the FPSES. The SSTICS score also correlated with the cognition factor of the PANSS. Our results demonstrate that the SSTICS is a good instrument for evaluating the subjective complaints of patients with schizophrenia. They also reveal good concordance between cognitive impairments experienced by patients and cognitive disorders assessed by a clinical rater.

Including integrated psychological treatment as part of standard medical therapy for patients with schizophrenia: clinical outcomes.

To assess the clinical outcomes associated with the inclusion of Integrated Psychological Treatment (IPT) standard medical therapy in nine regular clinical settings, nine clinical teams integrated the complete IPT program (six hierarchically arranged subprograms) with their respective standard medical therapies for outpatients with schizophrenia. A total of 90 patients, young adults to long-term mentally ill patients, participated in the program. Patients were evaluated using standardized instruments at four time points: (1) prior to including the IPT program, (2) after the first three IPT subprograms, (3) at the end of IPT, and (4) 3 to 4 months post-IPT. The IPT program was associated with positive results. Patients improved in terms of overall symptoms, subjective experiences, cognitive and social functioning, and quality of life. IPT is one of the most up-to-date programs to address the rehabilitation needs of persons suffering from schizophrenia. Our experience in nine clinical settings suggests that IPT can successfully be included as part of standard medical therapy in the rehabilitation of patients with schizophrenia.

Cognitive predictors of psychosocial functioning outcome in schizophrenia: a follow-up study of subjects participating in a rehabilitation program.

The aims of this prospective study were to explore in subjects with psychosis participating in a rehabilitation program whether cognitive performances at baseline predicted (i) psychosocial functioning over a 15-16 month follow-up; (ii) improvement in psychosocial functioning over the rehabilitation program. Visuo-spatial tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were administered to assess cognitive performance in 55 subjects with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who completed a rehabilitation program. The Multnomah Community Ability Scale (MCAS) was used to measure dimensions of community functioning. One subscale of the Client's Assessment of Strengths, Interests, and Goals (CASIG) provided a measure of subjective quality of life (QoL). Improvement was defined as a 15% or more increase in psychosocial scores between baseline and follow-up. Worse baseline sustained attention predicted better self-rated quality of life, and better baseline visual memory predicted better community functioning over the rehabilitation follow-up period, in particular, higher autonomy in activities of daily living, and less physical and psychiatric symptoms that could interfere with rehabilitation. Baseline cognitive performances predicted community functioning improvement during the follow-up period: visual memory predicted improvement in daily living autonomy and in social competence; sustained attention predicted improvement in behavioral problems (such as medication compliance, collaboration with treatment providers or impulse control) and social competence; planning performances predicted improvement in social competence. These cognitive functions could be specifically targeted in a rehabilitation program aimed at enhancing functioning in those particular dimensions.