The impact of social cognition deficits on real life functioning in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A comparative study with a large population of patients with schizophrenia

T. Accinni; M. Frascarelli; A. Buzzanca; F. Ghezzi; L. Carlone; A. Panzera; A. Moschillo; N. Girardi; F. Di Fabio

doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1445

European Psychiatry (Apr 2021)

The impact of social cognition deficits on real life functioning in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A comparative study with a large population of patients with schizophrenia

T. Accinni,
M. Frascarelli,
A. Buzzanca,
F. Ghezzi,
L. Carlone,
A. Panzera,
A. Moschillo,
N. Girardi,
F. Di Fabio

Affiliations

T. Accinni: Department Of Human Neurosciences Sapienza University Of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, Rome, Italy
M. Frascarelli: Department Of Human Neurosciences Sapienza University Of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, Rome, Italy
A. Buzzanca: Department Of Human Neurosciences Sapienza University Of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, Rome, Italy
F. Ghezzi: Department Of Human Neurosciences Sapienza University Of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, Rome, Italy
L. Carlone: Department Of Human Neurosciences Sapienza University Of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, Rome, Italy
A. Panzera: Department Of Human Neurosciences Sapienza University Of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, Rome, Italy
A. Moschillo: Department Of Human Neurosciences Sapienza University Of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, Rome, Italy
N. Girardi: Department Of Human Neurosciences Sapienza University Of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, Rome, Italy
F. Di Fabio: Department Of Human Neurosciences Sapienza University Of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, Rome, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1445
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 64
pp. S541 – S542

Abstract

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Introduction 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS) represents a congenital syndrome with several clinical features. It entails a 25% risk of psychotic onset in lifespan. 22q11.2DS is a reliable model for biological vulnerability to schizophrenia. Objectives With the hypothesis of similar impairments in schizophrenia and 22q11DS, to investigate a possible correlation between Social Cognition (SC) and Interpersonal Functioning (FU). Methods Sample consists of 1735 adults: 893 schizophrenic subjects (SCZ); 18 with 22q11.2DS and psychosis (DEL_SCZ); 44 22q11.2DS individuals (DEL); 780 healthy controls (HC). SCZ and HC data come from a multicentric study by Network for Research on Psychoses. SC was assessed with The Awareness of Social Interference Test (TASIT, consisting of three sections: T1= Emotion Recognition; T2=Minimal Social Inference; T3=Social Inference Enriched). The Specific Levels of Functioning (SLOF) interview was employed. Results DEL_SCZ (p<0.001) and SCZ (p<0.001) showed impairments in each TASIT sections compared to HC. Significant deficits in interpersonal functioning area were found in SCZ (p<0.001) compared to HC. The interpersonal functioning domain showed a positive correlation with SC in HC (T1: r=0.097; p<0.001; T2: r=0.120; p=0.001; T3: r=0.121; p=0.001); DEL (T1: r=0.380; p=0.024; T2: r=0.466; p=0.005) and SCZ (T1: r=0.113, p=0.001; T2: r=0.110, p=0.001; T3: r=0.134; p<0.001). Conclusions SC deficits both in subjects with 22q11.2DS and in people with schizophrenia suggest a role of endophenotypes. SC is directly correlated to interpersonal functioning in 22q11.2DS without psychosis and people with schizophrenia. DEL_SCZ may suffer from deeper cognitive and symptomatic conditions that both impact differently on FU.

Published in European Psychiatry

ISSN: 0924-9338 (Print); 1778-3585 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system: Psychiatry
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-psychiatry

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