Giovanni Mansueto1, Koen Schruers2, Fiammetta Cosci3, Jim van Os4. 1. Maastricht University Medical Center, Dept. of Psychiatry & Psychology, School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: mansuetogiovannipsy@gmail.com. 2. Maastricht University Medical Center, Dept. of Psychiatry & Psychology, School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht, the Netherlands. 3. Maastricht University Medical Center, Dept. of Psychiatry & Psychology, School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. 4. Maastricht University Medical Center, Dept. of Psychiatry & Psychology, School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; King's College London, King's Health Partners, Dept. of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Childhood abuse and neglect are risk factors for psychotic symptoms. Early adversities may contribute to alterations in neuro/social cognition, which in turn is associated with psychosis. This study explored the possible mediating/moderating role of neuro/social cognition between childhood abuse and neglect on the one hand, and psychotic symptoms on the other. METHOD: The sampling frame was 1.119 patients with a psychotic disorder. Childhood adversity was evaluated with the Dutch version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Psychotic symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Verbal learning-memory, attention-vigilance, working memory, information processing speed, reasoning-problem solving were evaluated as measures of neurocognition using the Word Learning Task, the Continuous Performance Test, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 3rd. Mentalization was evaluated as a measure of social cognition using the Hinting Task. Correlation, mediation, moderation, 95% Bias Corrected and accelerated (BCaCI) bootstrapped analyses were performed, considering possible sex differences. RESULTS: In male psychotic patients, attention and vigilance mediated the association between childhood neglect and negative symptoms (indirect effect: 0.18, BCaCI: 0.03-0.54), disorganization (indirect effect: 0.26, BCaCI: 0.05-0.61), excitement (indirect effect: 0.07, BCaCI: 0.004-0.23); mentalization mediated the association between childhood neglect and negative symptoms (indirect effect: 0.21, BCaCI: 0.02-0.51), excitement (indirect effect: 0.07, BCaCI: 0.01-0.20) disorganization (indirect effect: 0.29, BCaCI: 0.02-0.64); working memory mediated the association between childhood abuse and disorganization (indirect effect: 0.28, BCaCI: 0.05-0.57), excitement (indirect effect: 0.08, BCaCI: 0.01-0.20), emotional distress (indirect effect: 0.10, BCaCI: 0.01-0.27). DISCUSSION: In psychotic disorder, sex-specific mediation of neurocognition and mentalization may exist in the association between childhood adversity and psychotic symptoms.
INTRODUCTION: Childhood abuse and neglect are risk factors for psychotic symptoms. Early adversities may contribute to alterations in neuro/social cognition, which in turn is associated with psychosis. This study explored the possible mediating/moderating role of neuro/social cognition between childhood abuse and neglect on the one hand, and psychotic symptoms on the other. METHOD: The sampling frame was 1.119 patients with a psychotic disorder. Childhood adversity was evaluated with the Dutch version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Psychotic symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Verbal learning-memory, attention-vigilance, working memory, information processing speed, reasoning-problem solving were evaluated as measures of neurocognition using the Word Learning Task, the Continuous Performance Test, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 3rd. Mentalization was evaluated as a measure of social cognition using the Hinting Task. Correlation, mediation, moderation, 95% Bias Corrected and accelerated (BCaCI) bootstrapped analyses were performed, considering possible sex differences. RESULTS: In male psychoticpatients, attention and vigilance mediated the association between childhood neglect and negative symptoms (indirect effect: 0.18, BCaCI: 0.03-0.54), disorganization (indirect effect: 0.26, BCaCI: 0.05-0.61), excitement (indirect effect: 0.07, BCaCI: 0.004-0.23); mentalization mediated the association between childhood neglect and negative symptoms (indirect effect: 0.21, BCaCI: 0.02-0.51), excitement (indirect effect: 0.07, BCaCI: 0.01-0.20) disorganization (indirect effect: 0.29, BCaCI: 0.02-0.64); working memory mediated the association between childhood abuse and disorganization (indirect effect: 0.28, BCaCI: 0.05-0.57), excitement (indirect effect: 0.08, BCaCI: 0.01-0.20), emotional distress (indirect effect: 0.10, BCaCI: 0.01-0.27). DISCUSSION: In psychotic disorder, sex-specific mediation of neurocognition and mentalization may exist in the association between childhood adversity and psychotic symptoms.
Authors: Weili Lu; Philip T Yanos; William R Waynor; Carol E Gao; Carolyn Bazan; Giovanna Giacobbe; Kenneth Gill; Deanna Bullock; Holly G Prigerson Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-02-04 Impact factor: 4.157