Validation of social cognition and interaction training's (SCIT) videos and photographs in Indian setting.

Background: Social cognition deficit is one of the marked characteristics of schizophrenia. Accumulated evidence suggests that social cognition and interaction training (SCIT) is associated with improved performance in social cognition and social skills in patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders. The cultural influence on social cognition is quite considerable. So, studies in the area of social cognition domains need to adapt and use culturally appropriate tools and measures to see the effectiveness. This study aimed to validate the materials used in SCIT training in Indian setting. Materials and Methods: The original script of video clips was translated into Hindi and was reshot, and the images were remade. A panel of experts rated the videos and images on a 5-point Likert scale. Furthermore, the content validity and internal consistency of the materials were calculated. Results: The content validity ratio (CVR) critical value was 0.357, and all the videos and images received more than the CVR critical value. The intraclass correlation coefficient for videos was 0.974, for SCIT photographs was 0.971, for "spotting character" was 0.975, and for "emotion shaping" was 0.965, indicating good internal consistency. Discussion: The majority of the experts in the panel found the videos and images adequate and appropriate for the Indian setting. In addition, the videos and photographs both yielded good internal consistency.

Sensory Gating Deficits and their Clinical Correlates in Drug-Free/Drug-Naive Patients with Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Sensory gating refers to "filtering" of irrelevant sensory input in the brain. Auditory sensory gating deficit has been considered as a marker of schizophrenia (SCZ) and assessed using P50 paired-click paradigm. We explore sensory gating deficits and their clinical correlates in SCZ. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five drug-free/drug-naïve patients with SCZ, whose psychopathology was assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and 25 age-matched normal controls (NC) were recruited. ERP recordings were done using 40-channel event-related potential measuring system. RESULTS: S2-S1 P50 amplitude difference, an index of sensory gating, was significantly lower in SCZ at F3 and F4 sites when compared to NC, indicating impaired gating. SCZ had significantly lower S1 amplitude compared to NC at these sites; S2 amplitudes were comparable. The sensory gating index also showed significant correlations with PANSS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reiterates sensory gating abnormalities in SCZ and confers a frontal specificity, implying specific deficits in early preattentive processes to them. Further, we suggest that gating deficits in SCZ are driven predominantly by abnormally small S1 rather than an inability to suppress S2. A correlation between sensory gating parameters and measures of psychopathology strengthens the hypothesis that abnormal response to sensory input may contribute to the psychopathology in SCZ.