Functional outcomes in schizophrenia: understanding the competence-performance discrepancy

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy vs social skills training in schizophrenia: a cluster randomized comparative effectiveness evaluation

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia and related disorders are highly disabling and create substantial burdens for families, communities, and health care systems. Although pharmacological treatments can often lessen the psychotic symptoms that are a hallmark of schizophrenia, they do not lessen the social and cognitive deficits that create the greatest impediments to community engagement and functional recovery. This study builds on prior research on psychosocial rehabilitation by comparing the effectiveness of two treatments demonstrated as efficacious in improving social and community functioning, Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) and a version of Social Skills Training (HOPES/SST).

METHODS

The study uses a randomized cluster design in which a pair of clinicians at community- and hospital-based mental service centers deliver either CET or HOPES to at least one group of 6-8 eligible clients for 12 months. Clinicians are trained and then supervised weekly, with ongoing process measurement of treatment fidelity, attendance, satisfaction, and retention, and use of other services. Measures administered at baseline and at 6 and 12 months while in treatment, and then at 18 and 24 months after treatment include social adjustment, quality of life, social skills, positive and negative symptoms, and neuro- and social cognition. We hypothesize that CET will be associated with greater improvements than SST in both the primary outcome of community functioning and the secondary outcomes of neuro- and social cognition and social skills. Secondarily, we hypothesize that more cognitive impairment at baseline and younger age will predict more benefit from CET compared to HOPES.

DISCUSSION

Resource shortages endemic in mental health services and exacerbated by the pandemic highlight the importance of identifying the most effective approach to improving social and community functioning. We aim to improve understanding of the impact of two efficacious psychosocial treatments and to improve clinicians' ability to refer to both treatments the individuals who are most likely to benefit from them. We expect the result to be programmatic improvements that improve the magnitude and durability of gains in community functioning.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrial.gov NCT04321759 , registered March 25, 2020.

Real-World Functioning in Psychiatric Outpatients: Predictive Factors

Introduction: Investigations on predictors of real-world functioning were mainly performed in patients with schizophrenia, while fewer studies have been conducted in other psychiatric disorders. Objective: Our objective was to identify clinical, socio-demographic, and illness-related predictors of real-world functioning during 12 months of standard treatments in outpatients with different diagnoses. Methods: Outpatients (n = 1019) with schizophrenia (SZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD) were evaluated with the following tools: SCID-5-CV and SCID-5-PD, CGI-S, SAT-P, DAI-10, and PSP. Change of PSP (ΔPSP) between baseline and 12 months was used as the dependent variable in multiple regression analysis. Results: Higher PSP score at baseline and the achievement of main milestones predicted better functioning after follow-up in all subgroups of patients, with the exception of BD. In the total sample, ΔPSP was related to age of onset, treatments, and quality of life, and inversely related to psychiatric anamnesis, antidepressants, and global symptoms. In SZ, ΔPSP was related to adherence and quality of life. In MDD, ΔPSP was related to psychotherapy and quality of life, and inversely related to antidepressants and global symptoms. In BD, ΔPSP was related to age of onset, antipsychotics, and quality of life, while it was inversely related to psychiatric anamnesis. In BPD, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, psychotherapy, and quality of life were directly related to ΔPSP, while suicidal attempts and global symptoms had an inverse relation. Conclusions: Several socio-demographic and illness-related variables predicted improvement of real-world functioning, besides psychopathology and severity of the disease.

Cognitive Remediation in Psychiatric Disorders: State of the Evidence, Future Perspectives, and Some Bold Ideas

Many people with psychiatric disorders experience impairments in cognition. These deficits have a significant impact on daily functioning and sometimes even on the further course of their disease. Cognitive remediation (CR) is used as an umbrella term for behavioral training interventions to ameliorate these deficits. In most but not all studies, CR has proven effective in improving cognition and enhancing everyday functional outcomes. In this paper, after quickly summarizing the empirical evidence, practical advice to optimize the effects of CR interventions is provided. We advocate that CR interventions should be as fun and motivating as possible, and therapists should at least consider using positively toned emotional stimuli instead of neutral stimuli. Participants should be screened for basic processing deficits, which should be trained before CR of higher-order cognitive domains. CR should stimulate metacognition and utilize natural settings to invoke social cognition. Wherever possible, CR tasks should link to tasks that participants face in their everyday life. Therapists should consider that participants might also benefit from positive side effects on symptomatology. Finally, the CR approach might even be utilized in settings where the treatment of cognitive impairments is not a primary target.

Cognitive, community functioning and clinical correlates of the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) in psychotic disorders

Negative symptoms are a core dimension of schizophrenia and other psychoses that account for a large degree of the poor functional outcomes related to these disorders. Newer assessment scales for negative symptoms, such as the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS), provide evidence for separate dimensions of motivational and pleasure (MAP) and expression (EXP) dimensions. This study was aimed at extending the analysis of the clinical, functional and cognitive correlates of CAINS dimensions in a sample of patients with psychotic disorders (n = 98) and 50 healthy controls.A psychopathological evaluation was conducted by using the Comprehensive Assessment of Symptoms and History (CASH). To assess the extrapyramidal signs, the UKU scale was used. Community functioning was evaluated by means of real-world and functional attainment measures. Additionally, a full neuropsychological test battery was administered. Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify the influencing and predictive factors associated with the CAINS dimensions.The MAP and EXP dimensions showed strong associations with the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) items and were not significantly associated with extra-pyramidal or cognitive deficits. The MAP and EXP CAINS dimensions revealed good predictive validity for real-world functioning and functional attainment measures.These findings suggest that the CAINS scale endorses good convergent validity for the assessment of negative symptoms and is very useful in the prediction of psychosocial functioning. In addition, the CAINS dimensions might provide advantages over old assessment scales on disentangling the complex associations between negative symptoms and cognitive impairment.

The relationship between cognition and functioning in schizophrenia: A semi-systematic review

In schizophrenia, impairments in neurocognition (NC) and social cognition (SC) are associated with reduced functional capacity (FC) and poor real-world functioning (RWF).

In this semi-systematic review, we examined this association across a range of research questions.

We conducted a systematic search in Embase and MEDLINE from 2005 to 2019, and conducted additional pragmatic searches. After screening of titles, abstracts and full-texts, we included 564 citations, of which 44 (26 primary studies, 15 systematic reviews and 3 narrative reviews) were prioritized for reporting.

Both NC and SC were significantly associated with functioning, with slightly stronger association for SC. Effect sizes were generally larger for FC than for RWF. NC showed stronger associations with occupational functioning and independent living, and SC with social functioning. Baseline cognition predicted long-term RWF up to 20 years of follow-up, though long-term data were limited for SC. Cognitive remediation improved RWF functioning, especially when it was combined with psychosocial rehabilitation.

SC mediated the relationship of NC with functioning. Negative symptoms appeared to mediate and moderate the association of cognition with functioning. Other factors involved included severity of cognitive dysfunction, metacognition, depression and choice of RWF instrument.

We discuss potential implications for studies of pharmacological cognitive interventions in schizophrenia – the relevance of both NC and SC, the advantage of adjunctive psychosocial rehabilitation, the role of relevant moderating and mediating variables, and the challenges with RWF instrument selection. Successful cognitive interventions could allow patients with schizophrenia to improve their potential for community functioning.

Functional Impairments and Theory of Mind Deficits in Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of the Associations

Schizophrenia is associated with major functioning difficulties. Theory of mind (ToM), the ability to infer the mental states of others, is an important determinant of functioning. However, the contribution of ToM to each specific domain of functioning remains to be better understood. The objectives of this meta-analysis were to document and compare the magnitude of the associations between ToM and (1) different domains of functioning (social functioning, productive activities, and instrumental activities of daily living), each assessed separately for functional performance and functional outcome and (2) different aspects of functioning (functional performance and functional outcome) in schizophrenia. Fifty-nine studies (N = 4369) published between 1980 and May 2019 targeting patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder aged between 18 and 65 years old were included. Studies were retrieved from seven databases. Correlations were extracted from the articles, transformed into effect sizes Zr and combined as weighted and unweighted means. The strength of the associations between the domains and aspects of functioning were compared using focused tests. A moderate association was observed between ToM and all domains of functioning, with a stronger association between ToM and productive activities compared with social functioning (only for functional outcome [χ2(2) = 6.43, P = 0.040]). Regarding the different aspects of functioning, a stronger association was observed between ToM and functional performance, compared with functional outcome, for overall functioning (χ2(1) = 13.77, P < 0.001) and social functioning (χ2(1) = 18.21, P < 0.001). The results highlight a stronger association of ToM with productive activities and with functional performance, which should be considered in future studies to improve functional recovery in schizophrenia.

Cognition and daily life functioning among persons with serious mental illness: A cluster analytic examination of heterogeneity on the Test of Grocery Shopping Skills

OBJECTIVE

To characterize variability in daily life functioning among individuals with serious mental illness based on a naturalistic performance measure of grocery shopping and standard neuropsychological tasks using cluster analytic methods.

METHODS

A naturalistic performance measure, the Test of Grocery Shopping Skills (TOGSS), and standard neuropsychological tasks, were completed by 191 participants with serious mental illness. Hierarchical cluster analytic techniques were used to explore functional subgroups based on naturalistic performance measure variables. Multivariate analyses of variance were utilized to compare subgroups on TOGSS variables and neuropsychological measures, respectively.

RESULTS

Two distinct functional subgroups emerged from the cluster analysis. On average, participants in cluster one were faster, more efficient, and more accurate compared to cluster two. Based on performance on neuropsychological tasks, cluster one had better verbal memory, visual attention, and processing speed, and executive functioning scores, compared to cluster two. The clusters did not differ on a measure of auditory working memory.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Naturalistic performance measures can assist with characterizing the heterogeneity in real life functioning among people with serious mental illness. Further work to illuminate the relationship between specific cognitive abilities and specific functional abilities is warranted and may assist with targeting effective treatment plans for functional recovery. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Social decline in the psychosis prodrome: Predictor potential and heterogeneity of outcome

BACKGROUND

While an established clinical outcome of high importance, social functioning has been emerging as possibly having a broader significance to the evolution of psychosis and long term disability. In the current study we explored the association between social decline, conversion to psychosis, and functional outcome in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis.

METHODS

585 subjects collected in the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS2) were divided into 236 Healthy Controls (HCs), and CHR subjects that developed psychosis (CHR + C, N = 79), or those that did not (Non-Converters, CHR-NC, N = 270). CHR + C subjects were further divided into those that experienced an atypical decline in social functioning prior to baseline (beyond typical impairment levels) when in min-to-late adolescence (CHR + C-SD, N = 39) or those that did not undergoing a decline (CHR + C-NSD, N = 40).

RESULTS

Patterns of poor functional outcomes varied across the CHR subgroups: CHR-NC (Poor Social 36.3%, Role 42.2%) through CHR + C-NSD (Poor Social 50%, Poor Role 67.5%) to CHR + C-SD (Poor Social 76.9%, Poor Role 89.7%) functioning. The two Converter subgroups had comparable positive symptoms at baseline. At 12 months, the CHR + C-SD group stabilized, but social functioning levels remained significantly lower than the other two subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study demonstrates that pre-baseline social decline in mid-to-late adolescence predicts psychosis. In addition, we found that this social decline in converters is strongly associated with especially poor functional outcome and overall poorer prognosis. Role functioning, in contrast, has not shown similar predictor potential, and rather appears to be an illness indicator that worsens over time.

Predictive factors of functional capacity and real-world functioning in patients with schizophrenia

Purpose

This study was performed to identify the predictive factors of functional capacity assessed by the Spanish University of California Performance Skills Assessment (Sp-UPSA) and real-world functioning assessed by the Spanish Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP) in outpatients with schizophrenia.

Methods

Naturalistic, 6-month follow-up, multicentre, validation study. Here, we report data on 139 patients with schizophrenia at their baseline visit. Assessment: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S), Sp-UPSA and PSP. Statistics: Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to determine the relationships between variables, and multivariable stepwise linear regression analyses to identify predictive variables of Sp-UPSA and PSP total scores.

Results

Functional capacity: scores on the PSP and PANSS-GP entered first and second at P < 0.0001 and accounted for 21% of variance (R2 = 0.208, model df = 2, F = 15.724, P < 0.0001). Real-world functioning: scores on the CGI-S (B = −5.406), PANSS-N (B = −0.657) and Sp-UPSA (B = 0.230) entered first, second and third, and accounted for 51% of variance (model df = 3, F = 37.741, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

In patients with schizophrenia, functional capacity and real-world functioning are two related but different constructs. Each one predicts the other along with other factors; general psychopathology for functional capacity, and severity of the illness and negative symptoms for real-world functioning. These findings have important clinical implications: (1) both types of functioning should be assessed in patients with schizophrenia and (2) strategies for improving them should be different.

Social anxiety and negative symptoms as the characteristics of patients with schizophrenia who show competence-performance discrepancy in social functioning

AIM

Although competence and performance in relation to social functioning usually go hand in hand, it is not uncommon to observe a discrepancy between the two in patients with schizophrenia. The present study was aimed at examining the characteristics of patient groups showing such discrepancy.

METHODS

A total of 205 outpatients with schizophrenia aged ≤40 years old were enrolled. The symptomatology and social functioning were widely assessed. The patients were divided into four groups by the cut-off scores for competence and performance in relation to social functioning calculated using a comprehensive dataset.

RESULTS

The subjects were divided according to their level of competence and performance as follows: high competence and high performance (CP) group, 108 (52.7%) patients; high competence, but low performance (Cp) group, 40 (19.5%) patients; low competence, but high performance (cP) group, 13 (6.3%) patients; low competence and low performance (cp) group, 44 (21.5%) patients. One-way analysis of variance and post-hoc comparisons revealed significantly worse negative symptoms, general psychopathology scores, global functioning, and quality of life in the Cp group than in the CP group, and significantly better social anxiety symptoms, global functioning, and quality of life in the cP group than in the cp group.

CONCLUSION

In patients who are capable, but do not perform well, negative symptoms may be involved in the discrepancy. Patients who are able to maintain themselves well despite low social competence appear to have milder social anxiety symptoms as compared to patients who are neither competent nor perform well.

Limited changes in activities of daily life performance ability among people with schizophrenia at clinical settings and the factors moderating the changes

Background

Impaired community functioning and functional ability are common among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). However, changes occurring in activities of daily life (ADL) ability through interventions provided at clinical settings have not been systematically examined in this population.

Methods

We retrospectively collated and analysed changes in ADL ability between admissions and discharges, measured utilising the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS), among 72 people with SSD at a public inpatient treatment and rehabilitation facility in Western Australia. Clinical and demographic factors moderating the changes were also determined.

Results

The standardised AMPS motor (p = 0.0088) and process scores (p < 0.0001) improved significantly between admission and discharge. However, overall, the improvements were of small to moderate magnitude, and >60% of participants did not experience significant or meaningful changes. Furthermore, mild to moderate impairment in the AMPS standardised motor (-1.3 SD), and process (-1.6 SD) ability was present at discharge. A logistic regression analysis revealed that low admission AMPS scores and duration of illness of more than five years predicted improvement of the AMPS motor score by discharge, but only the former predicted changes in the process scores. Other demographic, clinical, and treatment-related variables did not affect the outcome of the AMPS scores.

Conclusions

Impairment of ADL ability is recalcitrant in schizophrenia. The improvement was modest and occurred only in a proportion of participants. However, promisingly, chronic illness, low baseline ADL ability, treatment with clozapine and presence of treatment-resistant schizophrenia did not have an adverse effect on the outcome.

Associations Of Personality Traits With The Capacity-Performance Discrepancy Of Functional Outcome In Patients With Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

Functional capacity, which indicates one's ability to perform everyday living tasks, contributes to real-world functional performance in patients with schizophrenia. However, functional capacity is sometimes not comparable with functional performance in clinical settings. We hypothesized that specific personality traits are related to this capacity-performance discrepancy of functional outcome.

METHODS

The measures in this study were the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment Brief (UPSA-B) for functional capacity, the Social Functioning Scale (SFS) for functional performance, and the Temperament and Character Inventory-140 (TCI-140) for personality traits. A total of 94 stable outpatients with schizophrenia were divided into four groups based on combinations of their UPSA-B and SFS cut-off points, as follows: a high capacity and high performance (HH) group, a high capacity but low performance (HL) group, a low capacity but high performance (LH) group, and a low capacity and low performance (LL) group.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in demographics among the four groups. The LH group showed a significantly lower harm avoidance level than the LL group. The HL group showed a significantly lower persistence level than the HH group.

CONCLUSION

Lower harm avoidance may enhance functional performance, and lower persistence can limit functional performance, regardless of the primary levels of functional capacity in patients with schizophrenia. Novel and individualized psychosocial treatments considering the individual's personality traits seem to be helpful for maximizing their functional performance in the community.

Relationships among functional capacity, cognition, and naturalistic skill performance in people with serious mental illness

There has been increasing interest in understanding real-world outcomes for individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI). This study examined domain-specific skill knowledge, functional capacity, and neurocognition as predictors of naturalistic grocery shopping skill performance in forty-eight individuals with SMI. Participants completed measures of skill knowledge and general functional capacity (UCSD Performance-Based Skill Assessment - brief) as well as measures of neurocognition and symptoms. The Test of Grocery-Shopping Skills (TOGSS) assessed naturalistic shopping. TOGSS was significantly correlated with functional capacity, shopping skill knowledge, and neurocognition, but not symptoms. Multiple regression analysis was conducted with variables entered in 2 blocks. Skill knowledge and functional capacity were entered in block 1. Neurocognitive measures were entered in block 2 using forward entry. Skill knowledge was not a significant predictor of TOGSS when accounting for functional capacity and neurocognition. Functional capacity predicted TOGSS over and above skill knowledge and remained significant after accounting for the effects of neurocognition. Our findings indicate that functional capacity was associated with skill assessment under naturalistic conditions. Further, there was some, but not complete, overlap between neurocognitive and functional capacity predictors of naturalistic skill performance. Further development of naturalistic assessments may hold promise for interventions targeting real-world function.

Family burden predicts functional outcome in the early course of schizophrenia beyond psychiatric symptoms and baseline functioning

The goal of this study was to determine if family burden experienced by the families of individuals with a recent-onset of schizophrenia is associated with whether the individual is able to work or attend school during the first year of treatment. Forty-one participants with a recent first episode of schizophrenia and their families enrolled in two NIMH-funded protocols through the UCLA Aftercare Research Program completed a measure of family burden at baseline. Amount of work during this time was also recorded. Baseline family burden was associated with work status (no work, part-time work, or full-time work) at both the six-month, r = -0.321, p = .04, and one-year time point, r = - 0.47, p = .002. Family burden was also associated with hours participated in work/school hours at the six-month time point, r = -0.390, p = .012, and at the one-year time point, r = -0.492, p = .01. Further exploration into the family burden measure shows that family perceived limited opportunities resulting from the individual's psychiatric disorder was associated with worse functional outcome at all three time points beyond psychiatric symptoms and baseline functioning. Missed opportunities due to a family member's illness may reduce the level of support provided to the individual and thus impact their psychosocial functioning. Our findings suggest that this dimension of family burden is highlighting the importance of and need for more balanced family support to boost functional outcome.

Predictors of residency status in chronically institutionalized and community dwelling schizophrenia patients

BACKGROUND

This cross-sectional study contrasted chronically hospitalized schizophrenia (SZ) spectrum disorder inpatients to SZ community dwelling patients on measures of psychopathology, social competence, neuropsychological performance and real-world functioning in order to discern factors predictive of patients' residency status and to characterize the contrasting ends of the SZ outcome continuum.

METHOD

Subjects included 26 chronic SZ patients hospitalized continuously on average for 12.8 years, and 26 SZ patients with a history of at least 18 months tenure in community placement.

RESULTS

A series of multivariate analyses revealed both chronically hospitalized and community dwelling patients were similar in terms of their real world functioning abilities such as work skills, interpersonal skills, self-care skills and community engagement. Chronic SZ inpatients' manifested more severe functional competency and neurocognitive deficits relative to outpatients. Additionally, chronic inpatients were discriminated from community dwelling outpatients by their symptom severity and commitment of more socially undesirable/antisocial type behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors associated with chronic institutionalization are, in part, related to commission of antisocial type behaviors, as well as poor social and neurocognitive competences, and total symptom severity rather than deficits in everyday functional abilities.

Predictors of current functioning and functional decline in schizophrenia

Positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia may affect functional outcomes. However, these factors alone do not account for a large percentage of variance in outcomes. We investigated demographic, cognitive, symptom, and functional capacity predictors of current functional status in 280 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Functional decline over the lifespan was also examined in a subset of participants. Stepwise regressions modeled predictors of current functional status and functional decline as measured by the Assessment of Lifespan Functioning Attainment (ALFA). ALFA functional domains included paid employment, independence in living situation, romantic relationships, close friendships, and recreational engagement. More severe depressive symptoms were consistently associated with worse current community integration (lower levels of close friendships and recreational engagement). Better working memory performance was associated with higher rates of current paid employment. There were no consistent modifiable predictors of decline in functioning, but women reported less functional decline in the domains of employment and close friendships than men. Better cognitive performance was associated with less decline in living independence and romantic relationships, but more decline in paid employment and recreational engagement. Increased assessment and treatment of comorbid depressive symptoms may improve functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia.

Metacognition as a Mediating Variable Between Neurocognition and Functional Outcome in First Episode Psychosis

BACKGROUND

Neurocognitive and functional outcome deficits have long been acknowledged in schizophrenia and neurocognition has been found to account for functional disability to a greater extent than psychopathology. Much of the variance in functional outcome however still remains unexplained and metacognition may mediate the relationship between neurocognition, functional capacity, and self-reported social and occupational function.

METHOD

Eighty first episode psychosis participants were recruited and completed measures of neurocognition (memory, executive function, and intelligence quotient), metacognition (Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, Metacognitive Awareness Interview), psychopathology (PANSS), and both functional capacity (UPSA) and real-life social and occupational function (The Time Use Survey). Path analyses investigated the relationships between variables through structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

A series of path models demonstrated that metacognition partially mediates the relationship between neurocognition and functional capacity, and fully mediates the relationship between functional capacity and social and occupational function.

CONCLUSION

The present study findings identify that metacognition may be critical to translating cognitive and functional skills into real-world contexts, and this relationship is found at early stages of illness. Understanding how individuals translate cognitive and functional skills into the real-world (the competence-performance gap) may offer valuable guidance to intervention programs. This finding is important to models of recovery as it suggests that intervention programs that focus on enhancing metacognition abilities may have a greater impact than traditional rehabilitation programs focusing on cognitive abilities, on social and occupational outcomes.

Exploring functioning in schizophrenia: Predictors of functional capacity and real-world behaviour

Impairment in daily functioning still represents a major treatment issue in schizophrenia and a more in-depth knowledge of underlying constructs is crucial for interventions to translate into better outcomes. This study aims to model factors influencing both functional capacity and real-life behaviour in a sample of outpatients with chronic schizophrenia, through a comprehensive assessment including evaluations of psychopathology, cognitive and social cognitive abilities, premorbid adjustment, family environment and early childhood experiences. No significant correlation was observed between functional capacity and real-life behaviour. Functional capacity was significantly predicted by IQ, while real-life behaviour was significantly predicted by empathy, affect recognition and symptoms. Functional capacity seems mainly related to neurocognition, whereas real-life behaviour appears more complex, requiring the integration of different factors including symptoms, with a major role of empathy. Results thus support a divergence between the two constructs of functioning and their underlying components and highlight the need to target both dimensions through individualized sequential rehabilitation programs in order to optimize functional outcome.

Predicting real-world functional milestones in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe disorder that often causes impairments in major areas of functioning, and most patients do not achieve expected real-world functional milestones. The aim of this study was to identify which variables of demography, illness activity, and functional capacity predict patients' ability to attain real-world functional milestones. Participants were 235 outpatients, 149 men and 86 women, diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Our results showed that younger patients managed to achieve a higher level of functioning in educational level, marital status, and social contacts. Patients' functional capacity was primarily associated with educational level and housing situation. We also found that women needed less support regarding housing and obtained a higher level of marital status as compared with men. Our findings demonstrate the importance of considering current symptoms, especially negative symptoms, and remission stability over time, together with age, duration of illness, gender, educational level, and current functional capacity, when predicting patients' future real-world functioning. We also conclude that there is an advantage in exploring symptoms divided into positive, negative, and general domains considering their probable impact on functional achievements.

Neurocognition and occupational functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and workplace assessments

The MCCB is widely used in clinical trials of schizophrenia, but its relationship to occupational functioning still needs further elaboration. While previous research has indicated that various domains of neurocognition assessed by individual tests are related to work functioning, these reports preceded the development of the MCCB as the standard neurocognitive test battery in the field. In the current study, the vocational functioning of 131 Norwegian participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who were enrolled in a vocational rehabilitation program were assessed on the Vocational Cognitive Rating Scale (VCRS), the Work Behavior Inventory (WBI), and the Complexity Scale (CS) as well as on the MCCB. Significant correlations were found between most MCCB domains and VCRS Total Score. MCCB processing speed and attention were most powerfully related to and predictive of WBI scores. When participants were divided into "low complexity" or "higher complexity" work categories, participants in the "low-complexity" group performed significantly worse than participants in the "higher-complexity" group regarding processing speed, working memory, visual learning and the composite score. The same pattern emerged for participants working sheltered compared to competitive jobs. The VCRS, WBI and CS may be useful in vocational rehabilitation. They bridge an important gap between test- and occupational-setting, providing valuable information about impairments related to occupational functioning. We found the MCCB to be sensitive to occupational functioning as measured by VCRS, WBI and CS, with neurocognition accounting for a small but significant proportion of the variance in these different measures of occupational functioning.

Report on ISCTM Consensus Meeting on Clinical Assessment of Response to Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia

If treatments for cognitive impairment are to be utilized successfully, clinicians must be able to determine whether they are effective and which patients should receive them. In order to develop consensus on these issues, the International Society for CNS Clinical Trials and Methodology (ISCTM) held a meeting of experts on March 20, 2014, in Washington, DC. Consensus was reached on several important issues. Cognitive impairment and functional disability were viewed as equally important treatment targets. The group supported the notion that sufficient data are not available to exclude patients from available treatments on the basis of age, severity of cognitive impairment, severity of positive symptoms, or the potential to benefit functionally from treatment. The group reached consensus that cognitive remediation is likely to provide substantial benefits in combination with procognitive medications, although a substantial minority believed that medications can be administered without nonpharmacological therapy. There was little consensus on the best methods for assessing cognitive change in clinical practice. Some participants supported the view that performance-based measures are essential for measurement of cognitive change; others pointed to their cost and time requirements as evidence of impracticality. Interview-based measures of cognitive and functional change were viewed as more practical, but lacking validity without informant involvement or frequent contact from clinicians. The lack of consensus on assessment methods was viewed as attributable to differences in experience and education among key stakeholders and significant gaps in available empirical data. Research on the reliability, validity, sensitivity, and practicality of competing methods will facilitate consensus.

Cluster analysis differentiates high and low community functioning in schizophrenia: Subgroups differ on working memory but not other neurocognitive domains

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia is characterized by impairment in multiple aspects of community functioning. Available literature suggests that community functioning may be enhanced through cognitive remediation, however, evidence is limited regarding whether specific neurocognitive domains may be treatment targets. We characterized schizophrenia subjects based on their level of community functioning through cluster analysis in an effort to identify whether specific neurocognitive domains were associated with variation in functioning.

METHODS

Schizophrenia (SCZ, n=60) and control (CON, n=45) subjects completed a functional capacity task, social competence role-play, functional attainment interview, and a neuropsychological battery. Multiple cluster analytic techniques were used on the measures of functioning in the schizophrenia subjects to generate functionally-defined subgroups. MANOVA evaluated between-group differences in neurocognition.

RESULTS

The cluster analysis revealed two distinct groups, consisting of 36 SCZ characterized by high levels of community functioning (HF-SCZ) and 24 SCZ with low levels of community functioning (LF-SCZ). There was a main group effect for neurocognitive performance (p<0.001) with CON outperforming both SCZ groups in all neurocognitive domains. Post-hoc tests revealed that HF-SCZ had higher verbal working memory compared to LF-SCZ (p≤0.05, Cohen's d=0.78) but the two groups did not differ in remaining domains.

CONCLUSION

The cluster analysis classified schizophrenia subjects in HF-SCZ and LF-SCZ using a multidimensional assessment of community functioning. Moreover, HF-SCZ demonstrated rather preserved verbal working memory relative to LF-SCZ. The results suggest that verbal working memory may play a critical role in community functioning, and is a potential cognitive treatment target for schizophrenia subjects.

The impact of aging, cognition, and symptoms on functional competence in individuals with schizophrenia across the lifespan

OBJECTIVE

Life expectancy in individuals with schizophrenia continues to increase. It is not clear whether cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia remain as strong predictors of function in older and younger individuals. Thus, we assessed the relationship between cognition and functional competence in individuals with schizophrenia across 7 decades of life.

METHODS

We analyzed data obtained in 232 community-dwelling participants with schizophrenia (age range: 19-79 years). Cognition was assessed using the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Consensus Cognitive Battery. Functional competence was assessed using the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment, which includes measures of Comprehension and Planning of Recreational Activities Skills, Financial Skills, Communication Skills, Transportation Skills, and Household Management Skills. To assess the effects of Global Cognition on functional competence, we performed hierarchical multivariate linear or logistic regression analyses controlling for age, education, gender, and negative symptoms.

RESULTS

Participants' mean age was 49.1 (SD = 13.2, range = 19-79 years), 161 (69%) were male, and 55 (24%) were aged ≥60. Global Cognition was a predictor of Comprehension and Planning Skills (Exp(β) = 1.048), Financial Skills (Exp(β) = 1.104), Communication Skills (ΔR (2) = .31) and Transportation Skills (Exp(β) = 1.066), but not Household Management Skills after adjusting for age, education, gender, and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

CONCLUSION

Cognition remains a strong predictor of functional competence across the lifespan. These findings suggest that treating cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia could improve individuals' function independent of their age.

Comparison of self-report and performance-based measures of everyday functioning in individuals with schizophrenia: implications for measure selection

INTRODUCTION

Both self-report and performance-based measures are often used in assessment of everyday functioning for individuals with schizophrenia. However, there is little evidence of overlap between them, and there are no established standards for which measures might be most appropriate. In order to better understand differences among these types of measures, we examined relationships between a self-report and two performance-based measures of everyday functioning. We also examined their patterns of interrelationships to neurocognition and psychiatric symptoms.

METHODS

Participants were 71 outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Measures of everyday functioning (Independent Living Skill Survey-Self Report (ILSS-SR); University of California San Diego Performance-based Skills Assessment; and Medication Management Ability Assessment), cognition and psychiatric symptoms were administered. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among the functioning measures, and their relationships to cognition and symptoms. Regression analyses further examined the unique contributions of neurocognitive and symptom variables to functional measures.

RESULTS

Consistent with the literature, the two performance-based measures were related to each other, but not to the self-report measure. Whereas the performance-based measures were related to neurocognition but not to the psychiatric symptoms, the opposite pattern was observed for the self-report measure.

CONCLUSIONS

The pattern of interrelationships among these self-report and performance-based measures suggests that they tap different aspects of everyday functioning. This has important implications for measure selection, particularly for evaluating intervention outcomes. When targeting symptoms, a self-report measure like the ILSS-SR may be more appropriate, whereas a performance-based measure may be more sensitive to functional changes subsequent to treatments targeting cognition.

A Longitudinal Examination of the Moderating Effects of Symptoms on the Relationship between Functional Competence and Real World Functional Performance in Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Many individuals with schizophrenia experience remission of prominent positive symptoms but continue to experience impairments in real world functioning. Residual negative and depressive symptoms may have a direct impact on functioning and impair patients' ability to use the cognitive and functional skills that they possess (competence) in the real world (functional performance).

METHODS

136 individuals (100 men, 36 women) with schizophrenia were classified as having primarily positive symptoms, primarily negative symptoms, primarily depressive symptoms, or undifferentiated symptom profiles. Performance based measures of cognition and adaptive and interpersonal functional competence were used, along with ratings of real world behavior by high contact clinicians. Assessments were performed at baseline and at an 18-month follow-up.

RESULTS

The relationships between neurocognition and capacity / performance were not moderated by symptom group ps > .091; neurocognition predicted capacity and performance for all groups ps < .001. The relationship between adaptive competence and adaptive performance was moderated by symptom group, ps < .01, such that baseline competence only predicted future performance ratings for participants with primarily positive or undifferentiated symptoms, and not for individuals with primarily negative or depressive symptoms. This same moderation effect was found on the relationship between interpersonal competence and interpersonal performance, ps < .002.

CONCLUSIONS

Residual negative and depressive symptoms are distinct constructs that impede the use of functional skills in the real world. Depressive symptoms are often overlooked in schizophrenia but appear to be an important factor that limits the use of functional ability in real world environments.

Measuring motivation in schizophrenia: is a general state of motivation necessary for task-specific motivation?

Despite the important role of motivation in rehabilitation and functional outcomes in schizophrenia, to date, there has been little emphasis on how motivation is assessed. This is important, since different measures may tap potentially discrete motivational constructs, which in turn may have very different associations to important outcomes. In the current study, we used baseline data from 71 schizophrenia spectrum outpatients enrolled in a rehabilitation program to examine the relationship between task-specific motivation, as measured by the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), and a more general state of volition/initiation, as measured by the three item Quality of Life (QLS) motivation index. We also examined the relationship of these motivation measures to demographic, clinical and functional variables relevant to rehabilitation outcomes. The two motivation measures were not correlated, and participants with low general state motivation exhibited a full range of task-specific motivation. Only the QLS motivation index correlated with variables relevant to rehabilitation outcomes. The lack of associations between QLS motivation index and IMI subscales suggests that constructs tapped by these measures may be divergent in schizophrenia, and specifically that task-specific intrinsic motivation is not contingent on a general state of motivation. That is, even in individuals with a general low motivational state (i.e. amotivation), interventions aimed at increasing task-specific motivation may still be effective. Moreover, the pattern of interrelationships between the QLS motivation index and variables relevant to psychosocial rehabilitation supports its use in treatment outcome studies.

Neurocognition, functional capacity, and functional outcomes: the cost of inexperience

BACKGROUND

Neurocognitive impairments are the strongest predictor of functional deficits in schizophrenia, but adaptive (i.e., functional) capacity, typically measured with performance-based assessments, yields an objective index of current abilities, whereas real-world functional performance relies on observations of community activity. However, limited experiences in the community may limit the acquisition, retention, or expression of these skills.

METHODS

We examined the frequency of engagement in behaviors that are assessed in the current "gold standard" in person functional capacity assessment. The UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment (i.e., UPSA) examines skills associated with recreational engagement, handling money, scheduling appointments, and navigating public transportation. We used neurocognition, experience, and UPSA performance as predictors of the relationships among cognition and real-world functioning variables.

RESULTS

Neurocognition was a significant correlate of UPSA scores regardless of whether it was forced into the model before or after prior experience, whereas experience was only a significant predictor of UPSA scores when entered before neurocognition. Further, functional capacity, neurocognition, and experience were significant predictors of real-world outcomes and experience remained a significant predictor regardless of the order it was entered into the model.

CONCLUSIONS

The amount of current experience with functional tasks is not a rate-limiter of the relationships between neurocognition and functional capacity but does account for some previously unexplained variance in the functional capacity-everyday functioning relationship. These findings underscore the importance of neurocognitive deficits as they relate to functional capacity in schizophrenia, and suggest an incremental functional cost of limited experience with independent living.

Neurocognition: clinical and functional outcomes in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is characterized by significant heterogeneity in outcome. The last decades have witnessed a significant interest in identifying factors that can moderate or influence clinical and functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia. One factor of particular interest is neurocognition, as performance on various measures of cognitive abilities, such as memory, attention, and executive functions, have been consistently related to functional outcome and, to a lesser extent, clinical outcome. This review aims to provide an up-to-date description of recent studies examining the association between neurocognition and clinical and (or) functional outcomes. In the first section, studies examining neurocognitive performance in relation to clinical outcome are examined. When clinical outcome is defined dichotomously (for example, comparing remitted and nonremitted), verbal memory performance consistently exhibits a strong association with clinical status, with the poor outcome group showing the largest deficits. In the second section, studies exploring the relation between neurocognition and various dimensions of functional outcome are reviewed. These dimensions include independent living, social functioning, and vocational functioning, among others. Again, a strong link between neurocognitive deficits and impairments in several aspects of functioning clearly emerges from this review. Finally, several measurement issues are discussed that pertain to the need to standardize definitions of clinical and (or) functional outcomes, the importance of defining cognitive domains consistently across studies, and distinguishing between one's competence to perform tasks and what one actually does in everyday life. Addressing these measurement issues will be key to studies examining the development of effective interventions targeting neurocognitive functions and their impact on clinical and functional outcomes.

The relevance of cognitive, clinical and premorbid variables in predicting functional outcome for individuals with first-episode psychosis: a 3 year longitudinal study

Real-world functional deficits are common and persistent in individuals with psychosis. Cognitive deficits have been shown to compromise functioning. We aimed to study the predictive values of premorbid, sociodemographic, and baseline clinical and neurocognitive factors on long-term functional outcome for individuals with first episode non-affective psychosis. We failed to demonstrate a significant relationship between cognitive deficits at baseline and functional disability at 3 year follow-up. Diagnosis of schizophrenia (OR=2.457, p=0.011), shorter education (OR=1.177, p=0.005) and poor premorbid social adjustment (OR=1.628, p=0.013) emerged as the strongest predictors for the 114 subjects (56%) that exhibited functional disability at 3-year follow-up. A considerable proportion of the variance in functioning (74% at 1 year and 77% at 3 year) remained unexplained by baseline variables. The set of variables that predicted functional outcome at medium- (1 year) and long-term (3 years) differed. In conclusion, the length of follow-up influenced the relationship between baseline variables and functional outcome. A substantial proportion of the variance in function was not explained by these variables and therefore the influence of other factors warrants further investigation. The data support the notion that premorbid social adjustment is an important aspect in functional outcome over the course of the illness.

Cognitive remediation for treatment-resistant depression: effects on cognition and functioning and the role of online homework

Neurocognitive impairments are observed in depression and associated with poor functioning. This study examined the efficacy and the effectiveness of cognitive remediation with supplemental Internet-based homework in treatment-resistant depression. Participants were randomized to treatment or wait list control conditions. Treatment consisted of 10 weeks of weekly group sessions and daily online cognitive exercises completed at home. The participants were assessed on cognitive, mood, motivation, and functioning measures. There was a significant time by treatment interaction for attention/processing speed and verbal memory. Changes in functioning were not significant, although improved cognition predicted improvements in functioning. Number of minutes of online exercise was associated with greater cognitive improvements. Cognitive deficits are malleable with behavioral treatment in a mood disorder characterized by severe and persistent symptoms.

When functional capacity and real-world functioning converge: the role of self-efficacy

Although functional capacity is typically diminished, there is substantial heterogeneity in functional outcomes in schizophrenia. Motivational factors likely play a significant role in bridging the capacity-to-functioning gap. Self-efficacy theory suggests that although some individuals may have the capacity to perform functional behaviors, they may or may not have confidence they can successfully perform these behaviors in real-world settings. We hypothesized that the relationship between functional capacity and real-world functioning would be moderated by the individual's self-efficacy in a sample of 97 middle-aged and older adults with schizophrenia (mean age = 50.9 ± 6.5 years). Functional capacity was measured using the Brief UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA-B), self-efficacy with the Revised Self-Efficacy Scale, and Daily Functioning via the Specific Level of Functioning (SLOF) scale and self-report measures. Results indicated that when self-efficacy was low, the relationship between UPSA-B and SLOF scores was not significant (P = .727). However, when self efficacy was high, UPSA-B scores were significantly related to SLOF scores (P = .020). Similar results were observed for self-reported social and work functioning. These results suggest that motivational processes (ie, self-efficacy) may aid in understanding why some individuals have the capacity to function well but do not translate this capacity into real-world functioning. Furthermore, while improvement in capacity may be necessary for improved functioning in this population, it may not be sufficient when motivation is absent.

The Canadian Objective Assessment of Life Skills (COALS): a new measure of functional competence in schizophrenia

This study examined the reliability and validity of a new performance-based measure of functional competence for individuals with serious mental illness, the Canadian Objective Assessment of Life Skills (COALS). The COALS assesses both routinized procedural knowledge routines (PKR) and executive operations (EXO) in order to capture functional outcome variance. The COALS was administered to 101 outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder and 80 non-psychiatric controls. One month later, 95 patients and 63 controls completed a follow-up assessment. Measures of psychopathology, neurocognition, functionality and community adjustment were also administered. Results indicated that the COALS summary scores had good test-retest reliability for patient data. Further, the COALS correlated with other measures of functionality and with negative symptoms, but was independent of positive symptoms, demonstrating concurrent and discriminant validity. The overall COALS summary score added incremental validity to the prediction of community independence over and above the contribution of symptoms, intellectual ability and neurocognitive performance. Inclusion of EXO scores provided incremental validity not available with PKR scores alone. The COALS increases the number of functional competence instruments and offers the advantage of specific validity while incorporating important distinctions in cognitive performance.

The use of the theory of planned behavior to predict engagement in functional behaviors in schizophrenia

In schizophrenia, low motivation may play a role in the initiation and frequency of functional behaviors. Several reviews support the efficacy of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to predict engagement in various behaviors, but little research has utilized the TPB to explain functional behavior in schizophrenia. This study tested the TPB for predicting prospective engagement in functional behaviors in a sample of 64 individuals with schizophrenia. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their attitudes toward, social norms regarding, perceived behavioral control over, and intention to engage in various functional behaviors during the upcoming week. Follow-up questionnaires assessed engagement in functional behaviors. Zero-order correlations indicated that positive attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control were positively correlated with intentions to engage in functional behaviors. In turn, intentions were positively correlated with engagement in functional behaviors. Using path analysis, social norms and control were significantly related to intentions, which in turn predicted greater engagement in functional behaviors. Results suggest that patients with schizophrenia make reasoned decisions for or against engaging in functional behaviors. Skills training interventions that also target components of the TPB may be effective for increasing motivation to engage in learned behaviors.

Relationships among neurocognition, symptoms, and functioning in treatment-resistant depression

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) refers to a condition where individuals with major depressive disorder have inadequate or no response to treatment. Although functional disability is a prominent and costly feature of treatment resistance, very little is known about the factors that contribute to and maintain functional impairment in TRD. This is the first study to report the neurocognitive profile of TRD and the relationships among neurocognition, symptoms, and functioning in this syndrome. Results indicated that patients with TRD (N = 33) exhibit mildly reduced performance across all neurocognitive domains with a superimposed moderate impairment in verbal working memory. Neurocognition was associated with functional competence (what one can do), whereas depressive symptoms were associated with functional performance (what one actually does). Understanding the psychological mechanisms related to functioning may help us move toward recovery in this chronically ill group.

Predictors of change in functional competence and functional behavior after functional adaptation skills training for schizophrenia

Functional recovery is an important treatment target in schizophrenia. Although medication is effective at reducing positive symptoms of the disorder, these improvements do not translate to improved functioning. In this study, schizophrenia outpatients (N = 54) received the psychosocial treatment Functional Adaptation Skills Training. Hierarchical regression analyses determined whether baseline neurocognitive, symptom, course of illness, and demographic variables predicted improvement in performance-based measures of functional competence and case manager-rated real-world behavior after the intervention. Consistent with previous research, neurocognition emerged as a predictor of improved competence and behavior. Symptoms played a minor role in predicting change; however, institutionalization history seemed to be an important rate limiter for functional recovery. Correlations among change scores were modest, with evidence for concomitant changes in competence and performance. The predictors of change after psychosocial treatment vary by the domain (e.g., adaptive and interpersonal) of functioning and the level of assessment (e.g., competence and performance).

Cognitive deficits, obesity and disability in schizophrenia

Despite 50 years of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions schizophrenia remains one of the leading causes of disability. The inability to function in everyday settings includes deficits in performance of social, occupational, and independent living activities. Schizophrenia is also a life-shortening illness, caused mainly by poor physical health and its complications. Dysfunctional lifestyles including sedentary behavior and lack of physical activity prevail, while treatment with adipogenic antipsychotic medication interacts with poor performance in screening, monitoring, and intervention that result in shortening of life expectancies by 25–30 years. Disability interferes with self-care and medical care, further worsening physical health to produce a vicious cycle of disability. Further, the neurobiological impact of obesity on brain functioning is substantial and relevant to schizophrenia. Decision making deficits that lead to choices resulting in obesity themselves have neurobiological determinants. Simultaneous treatment of cognitive deficits and related deficits in functional skills, ubiquitous determinants of everyday functioning in schizophrenia, and targeted interventions aimed at poor physical health, especially obesity and associated comorbidities, may lead to additive or even interactive gains in everyday functioning in patients with schizophrenia not previously realized with other interventions.