The association of metacognition with emotion recognition and perspective taking in a Russian sample with psychosis

Objective Schizophrenia may reflect an interactive network of disturbances in cognition. In this study we have examined the relationship between two forms of cognition: metacognition and social cognition among a sample with schizophrenia (n = 41), early episode psychosis (n = 37), and major depression (n = 30) gathered in Moscow, Russia. Methods Metacognition was assessed with the Metacognition Assessment Scale-Abbreviated. Social cognition was assessed with the Ekman 60 Faces Test and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Verbal memory and global psychopathology were included as potential covariates. Results Partial correlations controlling for demographics, neurocognition, and psychopathology revealed greater metacognitive capacity was linked to better facial emotion recognition and perspective taking in the prolonged schizophrenia group. Greater metacognitive capacity in the early psychosis group was linked with greater facial emotion recognition. Metacognition and social cognition were not related to one another in the depression group. Conclusions Social cognition and metacognition may be uniquely related in psychosis.

Automated summary

This study examined the relationship between metacognition and social cognition among individuals with schizophrenia, early episode psychosis, and major depression gathered in Moscow, Russia. The results showed that greater metacognitive capacity was linked to better facial emotion recognition and perspective taking in the prolonged schizophrenia group, while greater metacognitive capacity in the early psychosis group was linked with greater facial emotion recognition.