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EPA-1288 - Training of Affect Recognition in Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

G. Sachs ,
B. Winklbaur ,
R. Jagsch ,
N. Frommann  and
W. Wölwer
G. Sachs
Affiliation:
Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Wagner Jauregg State Hospital, Linz, Austria
B. Winklbaur
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
R. Jagsch
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
N. Frommann
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
W. Wölwer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

Abstract

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Social cognitive deficits are an important target in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia (1). The objectives of long-term treatment are not only to prevent relapse and reach remission but also to improve psychosocial functioning and working performance.

Atypical antipsychotic agents have been linked to a certain positive effect on cognition. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to evaluate the effects of psychotropic drugs on social cognition. The findings indicated a similar activation pattern in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls (3). In addition to treatment with psychopharmacological agents, neuropsychological rehabilitation programmes can further improve cognitive function and functional outcome. In a randomised study, we investigated the effects of atypical antipsychotic agents in combination with computer-based training on social recognition.

Methods:

Schizophrenic patients (n=20) receiving treatment with new antipsychotics in combination with a six-week training on affect recognition (TAR) were compared with a randomized control group (n=18) receiving pharmacological treatment with new antipsychotics in combination with occupational therapy (TAU). Effects on social cognition were tested with the Vienna Emotion Recognition Task (VERT-K). In addition, we investigated neurocognitive performance using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), TAP Alertness, Vigilance and working memory, negative symptoms using PANNS, depression using Beck‘s Depression Scale (BDI) and Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref).

Results:

In comparison to the TAU group, the TAR group achieved significant improvements in affect recognition in general as well as in recognizing sad faces. While the TAR group showed improved Quality of Life and Negative Symptoms, both groups were able to enhance some aspects of neurocognitive performance.

Discussion:

A six-week training on affect recognition (TAR) contributes to improvements in some aspects of cognitive and emotional performance with additional positive effects on functional outcome. The training group achieved improvements in social relationships, an important domain of quality of life (2).

Information

Type
W548 - Neurocognitive and social cognition training: are there evidences of generalization and impact on functional outcome?
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 29 , Issue S1: Abstracts of the 22nd European Congress of Psychiatry , 2014 , pp. 1
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2014

References

Sachs, G., Steger-Wuchse, D., Kryspin-Exner, I., et al.Facial recognition deficits and cognition in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2004; 68: 27–35CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sachs, G., Winklbaur, B., Jagsch, R., et al.Training of affect recognition (TAR) in schizophrenia – Impact on functional outcome. Schizophr Res 2012; 138: 262–267CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sachs, G., Moser, E., Katschnig, H., et al.No amygdala attenuation in schizophrenic patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2012;202:168–171CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
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