The role of premorbid personality and social cognition in suicidal behaviour in first-episode psychosis: A one-year follow-up study

Systematic Review of the Link Between Social Cognition and Suicidal Ideation and Behavior in People With Serious Mental Illness

Background and Hypothesis

People with serious mental illness (SMI; psychotic and affective disorders with psychosis) are at an increased risk of suicide, yet there is limited research on the correlates of suicide in SMI. Social cognitive impairments are common among people with SMI and several studies have examined social cognition and suicidal ideation (SI) and behavior. This systematic review aims to evaluate the links between various domains of social cognition, SI, and suicidal behavior in SMI.

Study Design

Electronic databases (PubMed and PsycInfo) were searched through June 2023. Records obtained through this search (N = 618) were screened by 2 independent reviewers according to inclusion criteria. Relevant data were extracted, and study quality was assessed.

Study Results

Studies (N = 16) from 12 independent samples were included in the systematic review (N = 2631, sample sizes ranged from N = 20 to N = 593). Assessments of social cognition and SI and behavior varied widely between studies. Broadly, effects were mixed. Better emotion recognition of negative affect was linked to SI and a history of suicide attempts, though there is little consistent evidence for the relationship of emotion recognition and SI or behavior. On the other hand, better theory of mind ability was linked to SI and a history of suicide attempts. Furthermore, negative attributional bias was linked to current SI, but not a history of SI or attempt.

Conclusions

This review suggests mixed associations between social cognition, SI, and behavior in SMI. Future research should evaluate additional mediators and moderators of social cognition and suicide, employing prospective designs.

Suicidal ideation in Chinese adults with schizophrenia: associations with neurocognitive function and empathy

BACKGROUND

Suicidal ideation is common among people diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and may be related to neurocognitive, social cognitive, and clinical variables. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between suicidal ideation and both neurocognitive function and empathy.

METHODS

The sample for this cross-sectional study comprised 301 schizophrenic patients aged 18-44 years. All participants were administered the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation-Chinese Version (BSI-CV), the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The demographic and clinical data of the patients were also collected.

RESULTS

In total, 82 patients reported suicidal ideation. Compared to patients without suicidal ideation, patients with suicidal ideation showed significant differences in the IRI-Personal Distress subscale, PANSS-General Psychopathology symptom scores, and suicide attempts. Moreover, there were moderating effects of neurocognitive function and empathy on the relationship between suicide attempts and suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the personal distress component of empathy, general psychopathology symptoms and suicide attempts are independent risk factors for suicidal ideation in Chinese adults with schizophrenia. Moreover, neurocognitive function may also be related to suicidal ideation through a moderating relationship. In order to reduce suicidal ideation among patients with schizophrenia, early screening of empathy and neurocognitive function is essential.

Relationship between cognition and suicidal behavior in recent-onset psychosis

Suicidal behavior (SB) is common in first-episode psychosis (FEP), and cognitive impairment has also been described in psychosis. Despite well-established risk factors for SB in psychosis, the role of cognition and insight remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between history of SB and cognition in recent-onset FEP, distinguishing between neurocognition, social cognition, and metacognition, and including cognitive insight (CI) as a metacognitive variable. The sample consisted of 190 participants with recent-onset FEP recruited from two multicentric studies. Two groups were formed based on presence/absence of a history of SB. Demographic, clinical, and cognitive data were compared by group, including significance level adjustments and size effect calculation. No differences were found regarding demographic, clinical, neurocognitive, social cognition, and metacognitive variables except for CI (18.18 ± 4.87; t = -3.16; p = 0.0020; d = -0.635), which showed a medium effect size. Small to medium effect size were found for attributional style (externalizing bias) (1.15 ± 3.94; t = 2.07; d = 0.482), theory of mind (ToM) (1.73 ± 0.22; t = 2.04; d = -0.403), jumping to conclusions bias (JTC) (23.3 %; X² = 0.94; V = 0.178). In recent-onset psychosis, neurocognitive functioning was not related to the history of SB. As novelty, individuals with previous SB showed higher CI. Also, regarding social cognition and metacognition, individuals with prior SB tended to present extremely low externalizing bias, better ToM, and presence of JTC.

Neuropsychological functioning and suicidal behaviours in patients with first-episode psychosis: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Suicidal behaviour is particularly frequent in patients with psychosis. Therefore, prevention is a key objective of mental health policies. The aim of the current work is to systematically review the association between neurocognitive functioning and suicidal behaviour in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Of the 3051 studies reviewed, only 7 met the inclusion criteria. Documents in English from their earliest date of coverage until January 2022 were searched for in the following databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO (ProQuest), and Springerlink. We used the PICO strategy to collect and categorize the data from each selected manuscript.

RESULTS

Overall, the results showed that the risk of suicidal behaviour is higher for FEP patients in the presence of a number of factors: poorer general neuropsychological functioning (except for working memory), poorer social cognition, more depressive symptoms, longer duration of untreated psychosis, higher awareness of the illness, poorer premorbid adjustment, and more frequent cannabis use.

DISCUSSION

Comprehensive general neuropsychology and assessment of social cognition, together with routine clinical record keeping, may help to identify FEP patients at a greater risk of attempting suicide.

Theory of Mind and Suicidality: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Disturbances in interpersonal functioning are prevalent in individuals with suicidality. Foundational for interpersonal functioning is theory of mind (ToM), a social-cognitive ability that allows individuals to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. Recent work has begun to investigate ToM performance in individuals with suicidality, though no review has quantitatively aggregated findings from these varied studies. The current study investigated the relations between ToM and suicidality with meta-analysis.

METHOD

We identified and meta-analyzed 15 studies that presented data for 2,895 participants (617 of whom had reported at least one suicide attempt).

RESULTS

Results indicated a significant, negative relation between ToM and suicidality with a medium overall effect size (g = -.475). Moderator analyses revealed that this effect was consistent across age, sex, ToM content, and suicidal outcome.

CONCLUSION

Deficits in ToM associated with suicidality hold promise for risk-identification, treatment, and prevention work.HighlightsTheory of mind (ToM) abilities are critical for effective interpersonal functioning.Meta-analytics results indicate that ToM deficits are associated with suicidality.Identifying such suicidality-related ToM deficits may inform risk-identification, treatment, and prevention work.

Neurocognitive functioning and impulsivity in first-episode psychosis with suicidal ideation and behavior: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) and behavior (SB) among people suffering from psychotic disorders is a public health issue. Most suicide attempts (SAs) occur before or during the early phases of first-episode psychosis (FEP). Improving knowledge about the suicide risk in the early stages is essential to develop therapeutic and prevention strategies. We conducted a systematic review to investigate an association between neurocognitive impairments or a history of impulsive behavior and SI or SB among patients with FEP.

METHOD

PRISMA guidelines were followed. Ten databases were searched using MeSH terms or key-words related to FEP, impulsivity or cognitive functioning measures and SI or SB, without restrictions for study design or length of follow-up. Included studies evaluated at least one cognitive function with neuropsychological tests or validated questionnaires, or provided records of impulsive behavior.

RESULTS

Twenty one research papers were included from databases, bibliographic references or expert opinions. Among patients with FEP, seven studies showed more pronounced neuropsychological impairments, especially regarding attention, processing speed, executive functioning and theory of mind in patients that had attempted suicide. No association was found between cognitive impairments on neuropsychological tests and SI. Previous non-suicidal impulsive behaviors were associated with SAs and suicide.

CONCLUSION

Our review suggests an association between neurocognitive impairments and SAs among patients with FEP. Records of impulsive behavior are also associated with SB in that population. Further research on the neuropsychology of FEP is necessary to identify how these impairments facilitate SB and evaluate their potential utility as therapeutic targets.

Affective theory of the mind and suicide in women with borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia: a comparative study

Background

Theory of mind (ToM) is one of the essential components of social cognition. Affective ToM enables us to interpret other’s feelings and behaviors. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia are two distinct mental disorders, yet they have a mutual deficit in interpreting emotions, thoughts, and intentions which may lead to a higher incidence of suicidality. Studies that involved social cognition, particularly ToM in schizophrenia, or BPD have controversial results. Therefore, this study aimed at comparing affective ToM functioning in female patients with BPD, schizophrenia, and healthy controls. In addition, identifying the possible impact and any correlation exists between the affective ToM and liability for suicide in those patients. Sixty individuals were recruited from the Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, and assigned into 3 groups where group A involved 20 BPD patients, group B involved 20 schizophrenic patients, and group C were healthy persons as a control. Assessment of affective ToM was done using Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), and probability of suicide was measured using Suicide Probability Scale (SPS).

Results

Regarding ToM, the three groups were assessed using RMET and the results revealed a significantly higher mean score (hypermentalization) in BPD patients than both schizophrenic patients and controls. While schizophrenic patients had significantly lower mean scores than the control group (hypomentalization). As well, BPD patients had a significantly higher suicide probability total score than Schizophrenic patients and in all subdomains except for the hostility subdomain that was significantly higher in schizophrenic patients. Interestingly, in BPD, the suicide probability total score was positively correlated with RMET.

Conclusions

BPD patients have enhanced affective ToM and hypermentalization that is significantly associated with increased suicide probability in those patients, while in schizophrenia, hypomentalization could not be linked to increased suicide probability. Rehabilitation and proper management of ToM abnormalities might be a crucial tool in suicide prevention in mental illnesses, particularly, BPD.

Understanding the Influence of Personality Traits on Risk of Suicidal Behaviour in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review

Risk of suicidal behaviour (SB) in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) is a major concern, particularly in early stages of the illness, when suicide accounts for a high number of premature deaths. Although some risk factors for SB in SSD are well understood, the extent to which personality traits may affect this risk remains unclear, which may have implications for prevention. We conducted a systematic review of previous studies indexed in MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Embase examining the relationship between personality traits and SB in samples of patients with SSD. Seven studies fulfilled predetermined selection criteria. Harm avoidance, passive-dependent, schizoid and schizotypal personality traits increased the risk of SB, while self-directedness, cooperativeness, excluding persistence and self-transcendence acted as protective factors. Although only seven studies were retrieved from three major databases after applying predetermined selection criteria, we found some evidence to support that personality issues may contribute to SB in patients with SSD. Personality traits may therefore become part of routine suicide risk assessment and interventions targeting these personality-related factors may contribute to prevention of SB in SSD.

Relationship between social cognition, general cognition, and risk for suicide in individuals with a psychotic disorder

OBJECTIVE

Cognitive alterations putatively contribute to the risk for suicide in individuals with psychosis. Yet, a comprehensive assessment of social- and general-cognitive abilities in a large sample is lacking.

METHODS

Seven-hundred-fifteen individuals diagnosed with a psychotic disorder performed tasks of facial emotion recognition, Theory of Mind, and general cognitive functioning (sustained attention, set-shifting, IQ-tests and verbal learning) as part of the Genetic-Risk-and-Outcome-of-Psychosis (GROUP) study. Presence of past suicide attempt/s and/or current suicidal ideation was reported by 261 individuals and 454 individuals reported no suicide attempt or ideation. We used general linear models to investigate group differences in task performance. All analysis were controlled for age, sex, education, and psychotic symptom severity.

RESULTS

Individuals with suicide attempt and/or ideation showed better performance on the facial emotion recognition task and lower performance on tasks of sustained attention and verbal learning, compared to individuals without suicide attempt and/or ideation, without a clear effect of attempt or ideation. Theory of Mind performance was also better for individuals with suicide attempt and/or ideation, with largest differences between individuals who reported both attempts and ideation compared to individuals without suicide attempt and/or ideation. No effect of suicide attempt and/or ideation was found on misperception of facial emotions, IQ and set-shifting. Overall, effect sizes were small.

CONCLUSION

Higher sensitivity to social-emotional cues together with weakened attentional control and learning capacity was observed in individuals with psychosis and suicide attempt and/or ideation. This may suggest that insufficient capacity for regulating perceived social stress contributes to suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Brain grey matter abnormalities in first episode non-affective psychosis patients with suicidal behaviours: The role of neurocognitive functioning

BACKGROUND

Suicide is one of the leading causes of premature death in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. The understanding of suicidal behaviour (SB) is limited, and new and integrative approaches focusing on the likely relationship of the biological and cognitive features of SB in the early phases of psychosis are warranted. We aimed to study the relationship of brain grey matter anomalies and cognitive functioning with SB or suicidal risk in a large sample of non-affective FEP patients.

METHODS

We used a voxel-based morphometry analysis in 145 FEP patients to investigate the pattern of structural brain abnormalities related to SB. In addition, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the relationship between cognitive functioning and SB.

RESULTS

A reduction in grey matter volume in the frontal area, temporal gyrus, precuneus, uncus, amygdala, left cuneus and subcallosal gyrus as well as a marked regional volume reduction in the right hemisphere was linked with the presence of SB. Additionally, worse global cognitive functioning and living in urban areas were identified as suicide risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides some insights about the brain abnormalities associated with SB in FEP patients. Specifically, the areas reported are involved in important functions related to SB, such as impulsivity, problem solving or responses to pain. Thus, the results confirm the relevant role of cognitive functioning on SB.

Personality traits, theory of mind and their relationship with multiple suicide attempts in a sample of first episode psychosis patients: One-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

High rates of suicidal behaviour (SB) have been found in first episode psychosis (FEP) patients. It has been suggested that the presence of multiple suicide attempts (mSA) increases the risk of later SA and the risk of eventual death by suicide.

OBJECTIVE

Our main objective was to study the baseline factors associated with the presence of mSA during the first year after FEP. In addition, a second aim was to find out whether there were any differences between single and multiple suicide attempters in the timing of the first SA after FEP.

METHOD

A total of 65 FEP patients were evaluated. The presence of SAs were recorded at two different times after FEP. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the relationship between SA with sociodemographic and clinical variables.

RESULTS

Multiple linear regression showed that mSA was associated with the presence of increased symptom severity (B = 0.35; t = 3.67; p < 0.01) and errors in first-order false-belief task (B = 0.48; t = 2.11; p = 0.04). There were significant differences in the timing of first SA after FEP between multiple and single suicide attempters.

CONCLUSIONS

Theory of mind impairments along with more severe symptoms during the first contact with mental health services for psychotic symptoms appeared to be important predictors of mSA. On the other hand, multiple suicide attempters tend to make a first SA after FEP earlier than single suicide attempters. These results could contribute to the implementation of preventive suicidal programs, however they must be confirmed by additional research.

Suicidal Behavior and Personality Traits Contribute to Disability in First-episode Psychosis: A 1-Year Follow-up Study

BACKGROUND

Disability encompasses impairments, activity limitations, and restrictions on participation. Improvement in functioning has therefore become a crucial outcome of treatment in psychosis.

OBJECTIVE

The main aim of this study was to analyze the potential relationship between suicidal behavior after first episode of psychosis (FEP) and family disability. The second aim was to find out whether personality traits are associated with disability dimensions.

METHOD

The study sample was composed of 65 FEP patients. The personal care, occupational, family, and social dimensions of disability were evaluated at 12 months after FEP. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore any putative outcome factors associated with dimensions of disability.

RESULTS

Personal care during the 1-year follow-up was significantly impaired in suicide attempters and significantly associated with sociopathic personality traits. A decline in occupational functioning was significantly associated with schizotypy traits. On the other hand, deterioration in family, social, and global functioning at 1 year after FEP was related to poor premorbid adjustment during late adolescence.

CONCLUSIONS

Suicidal behavior prevention could improve psychosocial functioning, particularly personal care, in FEP. In addition, sociopathic and schizotypy personality traits as well as poor premorbid adjustment during late adolescence appear to be useful early markers of future disability.

Beyond the mental pain: A case-control study on the contribution of schizoid personality disorder symptoms to medically serious suicide attempts

BACKGROUND

Clinical and research findings have highlighted the role of interpersonal factors in suicidal behavior with high levels of intent and lethality. Schizoid personality disorder (SPD) is at the extreme end of interpersonal difficulties. Thus, we aimed to understand the contribution of SPD symptoms to suicide behavior and specifically to more lethal suicide attempts.

METHOD

Four groups were investigated (N = 338): medically serious suicide attempters, medically non-serious suicide attempters, psychiatric and healthy controls. SPD symptoms, mental pain variants, and clinical characteristics were assessed.

RESULTS

Overall, attempters were characterized by higher levels of most SPD symptoms. Solitary lifestyle and emotional detachment were higher among medically serious suicide attempters relative to less-serious attempters. Emotional detachment doubled the risk for high lethality, beyond mental pain variables.

CONCLUSIONS

SPD symptoms of interpersonal difficulties and low levels of emotional expressions are important risk factors for more severe suicidal behavior. Implications for identification of at-risk groups for suicide are discussed.

Social cognition and short-term prediction of suicidal ideation in schizophrenia

Despite recent research acknowledging social cognition as an important feature of interpersonal functioning in schizophrenia, little work has evaluated the role of social cognition in suicidal ideation and behavior in psychosis. In a short-term longitudinal study, we evaluated the association between concurrent and near term suicidal ideation with social cognition, including emotion recognition and related biases (ER-40; BLERT), attribution biases (AIHQ), and evaluations of trustworthiness (trustworthiness task) in a sample of 179 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Adjusting for severity of positive and general mental health symptoms, greater reactivity to extreme stimuli (trustworthiness measure), BLERT negative affect accuracy, and AIHQ Blame Scores were associated with suicidal ideation at baseline. AIHQ Blame Scores also longitudinally predicted the presence of ideation 2 weeks later and were highest among participants with ideation across the two time points. The present findings provide support that biased interpretations, and, concurrently with ideation, reactivity and selective accuracy to negative stimuli, are associated with suicidal ideation in schizophrenia. Further understanding the role of social cognitive ability and biases on suicidal ideation could contribute to the understanding of social cognition as a treatment target in prevention of suicidal behavior in schizophrenia.

Acute stress and substance use as predictors of suicidal behaviour in acute and transient psychotic disorders

Several authors have reported high rates of suicidal behaviour in acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPD). However, the literature in this area remains scarce. We wanted to find out whether there are predictors of suicidal behaviour in ATPD. Of 1032 psychosis admissions examined over a five-year period, ATPD was confirmed in 39 patients according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria. These patients were classified as suicidal behaviour (20.5%) or non-risk (79.5%) using a structured interview to assess suicidal risk. The following variables were analysed: previous history of suicide attempt or deliberate self-harm, history of depressive episodes, previous substance use history, education, ATPD subtype (polymorphic vs. non-polymorphic), type of onset (abrupt vs. acute), and presence of associated acute stress. Multivariate analysis revealed that acute stress and substance use are significantly associated with suicidal behaviour in ATPDs. To our knowledge, this is the first study identifying independent risk factors that could predict suicidal behaviour in individuals with ATPD.