About this Research Topic

Background

Over the last three decades a number of objective assessments have been developed to measure functional capacity (the UPSA, SLOF scale) and cognitive performance (MATRICS, CANTAB, BACS, RBANS, CogState, SCIP) in mood disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. However, these tools are not concerned with patient reports of their subjective experiences nor their reactions to cognitive deficits. As a result, several screening tools investigating subjective experiences of cognitive impairment have been developed, notably: PRECIS, SCoRS, SASCCS, and SSTICS. The first one of these, SSTICS, is already used in 7 languages.

In addition to this, rating scales such as the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS), the Clinical assessment interview of negative symptoms (CAINS) interview and the Self-evaluation of Negative Symptoms (SNS) have been developed as three scales to be used for self-reporting of negative symptoms. Similarly, two other scales have been developed, namely the Motivation and Pleasure Scale-Self-Report (MAP-SR) and the self-report version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES-S), that ask for the patient’s self-report on the subdomain of motivation/apathy.

Cognitive deficits are a significant factor associated with increased patient/carer burden and healthcare costs in patients with severe psychiatric illness. Effective screening and targeted interventions to alleviate cognitive deficits may lead to improving treatment outcomes, reducing patient/carer burden and healthcare costs for individuals with mood disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

This Research Topic focuses on objective and subjective assessment of cognitive deficits in mood disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Patients with schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders and mood disorders often report significant subjective cognitive complaints. The overall aim of the Topic is therefore to better understand the relationships between subjective complaints and objective cognition in mood disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, as well as psychiatric symptoms and insight into illness.

We welcome submissions subject to two important selection criteria: (1) the presented studies must report high-quality evidence of the impact of cognitive deficits in mood disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, (2) and be based on rigorous study designs, theoretical models and solid methodological frameworks.

We welcome clinical trials (cross-sectional or longitudinal, prospective or retrospective, qualitative and/or quantitative), systematic reviews, or meta-analyses. Validation, cultural adaptation and the process of translation of subjective scales are also welcome. The submitted studies must focus on objective and/or subjective representation of cognitive deficits in mood disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. A special focus will be laid on the differences between self-report and observer-assessment and how the two relate to other clinical variables with particular attention to symptoms, medication and insight.

Keywords: schizophrenia spectrum disorders, negative symptoms, subjective complaints, metacognition, assessments

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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