Cognitive biases are associated with clinical and functional variables in psychosis: A comparison across schizophrenia, early psychosis and healthy individuals.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the presence of cognitive biases in people with a recent-onset psychosis (ROP), schizophrenia and healthy adolescents and explored potential associations between these biases and psychopathology. METHODS: Three groups were studied: schizophrenia (N=63), ROP (N=43) and healthy adolescents (N=45). Cognitive biases were assessed with the Cognitive Biases Questionnaire for Psychosis (CBQ). Positive, negative and depressive symptoms were assessed with the PANSS and Calgary Depression Scale (ROP; schizophrenia) and with the CAPE-42 (healthy adolescents). Cannabis use was registered. The association between CBQ and psychopathology scales was tested with multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: People with schizophrenia reported more cognitive biases (46.1±9.0) than ROP (40±5.9), without statistically significant differences when compared to healthy adolescents (43.7±7.3). Cognitive biases were significantly associated with positive symptoms in both healthy adolescents (Standardized ß=0.365, p=0.018) and people with psychotic disorders (ß=0.258, p=0.011). Cognitive biases were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in healthy adolescents (ß=0.359, p=0.019) but in patients with psychotic disorders a significant interaction between schizophrenia diagnosis and CBQ was found (ß=1.804, p=0.011), which suggests that the pattern differs between ROP and schizophrenia groups (positive association only found in the schizophrenia group). Concerning CBQ domains, jumping to conclusions was associated with positive and depressive symptoms in people with schizophrenia and with cannabis use in ROP individuals. Dichotomous thinking was associated with positive and depressive symptoms in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive biases contribute to the expression of positive and depressive symptoms in both people with psychotic disorders and healthy individuals.

Free Thyroxine Concentrations Moderate the Response to a Cognitive Remediation Therapy in People With Early Psychosis: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive deficits are a cause of functional disability in psychotic disorders. Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) might be applied to improve these deficits. We conducted a pilot study to explore whether thyroid hormones might predict the response to CRT in patients with recent-onset psychosis (ROP). METHODS: Twenty-eight stable ROP outpatients (9 women) were randomized to receive computerized CRT (N=14) or treatment as usual (TAU) (N=14), over three months. Both cognitive and thyroid functions were assessed at the baseline and after those three months to all patients. A full cognitive battery (CANTAB) was administered before and after the treatment. Serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) were measured. FT4 concentrations were recoded into a dichotomic variable (FT4 group) based on the median of the sample (1.2 ng/dL). Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis with linear mixed models. Afterwards, we offered CRT to all participants from the TAU group and seven enrolled CRT, reassessing them when finished. Secondary analyses were repeated in a sample of 14 participants who completed the CRT (either from the beginning or after the TAU period) and attended at least one third of the sessions. RESULTS: The linear mixed models showed a significant time x CRT x FT4 group effect in two cognitive tasks dealing with executive functions and sustained attention (participants with higher FT4 concentrations worsened executive functions but improved sustained attention after CRT). In the secondary analysis including all patients assigned to CRT, higher FT4 concentrations were associated with a poorer response in verbal memory but a better response in spatial working memory. CONCLUSIONS: Free thyroxine concentrations moderate the response to a CRT in patients with early psychosis.

Cognitive biases are associated with clinical and functional variables in psychosis: A comparison across schizophrenia, early psychosis and healthy individuals

Objective: We investigated the presence of cognitive biases in people with a recent-onset psychosis (ROP), schizophrenia and healthy adolescents and explored potential associations between these biases and psychopathology.MethodsThree groups were studied: schizophrenia (N=63), ROP (N=43) and healthy adolescents (N=45). Cognitive biases were assessed with the Cognitive Biases Questionnaire for Psychosis (CBQ). Positive, negative and depressive symptoms were assessed with the PANSS and Calgary Depression Scale (ROP; schizophrenia) and with the CAPE-42 (healthy adolescents). Cannabis use was registered. The association between CBQ and psychopathology scales was tested with multiple linear regression analyses.ResultsPeople with schizophrenia reported more cognitive biases (46.1±9.0) than ROP (40±5.9), without statistically significant differences when compared to healthy adolescents (43.7±7.3). Cognitive biases were significantly associated with positive symptoms in both healthy adolescents (Standardized β=0.365, p=0.018) and people with psychotic disorders (β=0.258, p=0.011). Cognitive biases were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in healthy adolescents (β=0.359, p=0.019) but in patients with psychotic disorders a significant interaction between schizophrenia diagnosis and CBQ was found (β=1.804, p=0.011), which suggests that the pattern differs between ROP and schizophrenia groups (positive association only found in the schizophrenia group). Concerning CBQ domains, jumping to conclusions was associated with positive and depressive symptoms in people with schizophrenia and with cannabis use in ROP individuals. Dichotomous thinking was associated with positive and depressive symptoms in all groups.ConclusionsCognitive biases contribute to the expression of positive and depressive symptoms in both people with psychotic disorders and healthy individuals. (AU)

Objetivo: Investigamos la presencia de sesgos cognitivos en personas con psicosis de reciente comienzo (ROP), esquizofrenia y adolescentes sanos, y exploramos las asociaciones potenciales entre estos sesgos y la psicopatología.MétodosSe estudiaron tres grupos: esquizofrenia (N=63), ROP (N=43) y adolescentes sanos (N=45). Los sesgos cognitivos se evaluaron utilizando Cognitive Biases Questionnaire for Psychosis (CBQ). Los síntomas positivos, negativos y depresivos se evaluaron utilizando las escalas PANSS and Calgary Depression Scale (ROP; esquizofrenia) y CAPE-42 (adolescentes sanos). Se registró el consumo de cannabis. La asociación entre CBQ y las escalas de psicopatología se probó utilizando un análisis de regresión lineal múltiple.ResultadosLas personas esquizofrénicas reportaron más sesgos cognitivos (46,1±9) que las personas con ROP (40±5,9), sin diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la comparación con los adolescentes sanos (43,7±7,3). Los sesgos cognitivos se asociaron significativamente a los síntomas positivos, tanto en adolescentes sanos (β=0,365 estandarizada; p=0,018) como en personas con trastornos psicóticos (β=0,258; p=0,011). Los sesgos cognitivos se asociaron significativamente a síntomas depresivos en adolescentes sanos (β=0,359; p=0,019), pero en pacientes con trastornos psicóticos se encontró una interacción significativa entre diagnóstico de esquizofrenia y CBQ (β=1,804; p=0,011), lo cual sugiere que el patrón difiere entre los grupos de ROP y esquizofrenia (solo se encontró asociación positiva en el grupo de esquizofrenia). En cuanto a los dominios de CBQ, el adoptar conclusiones se asoció a síntomas positivos y depresivos en las personas esquizofrénicas y que consumen cannabis en los individuos con ROP. El pensamiento dicótomo se asoció a síntomas positivos y depresivos en todos los grupos. (AU)