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Purpose: Previous studies have investigated the role of gender in clinical symptoms, social functioning, and neuropsychological performance in people with first-episode psychosis (FEP). However, the evidence of gender differences for metacognition in subjects with FEP is still limited and controversial. The aim of the present study was to explore gender differences in cognitive insight and cognitive biases in this population. Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 104 patients with FEP (35 females and 69 males) recruited from mental health services. Symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, cognitive insight with the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, and cognitive bias by the Cognitive Biases Questionnaire for Psychosis. The assessment also included clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: After controlling for potential confounders (level of education, marital status, and duration of psychotic illness) analysis of covariance revealed that males presented greater self-reflectiveness (p = 0.004) when compared to females. However, no significant differences were found in self-certainty and composite index of the cognitive insight scale, as in the cognitive biases assessed. Conclusions: Gender was an independent influence factor for self-reflectiveness, being better for males. Self-reflectiveness, if shown to be relatively lacking in women, could contribute to the design of more gender-sensitive and effective psychotherapeutic treatments, as being able to self-reflect predicts to better treatment response in psychosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a notable a gap between promising research findings and implementation of digital health tools. Understanding and addressing barriers to use is key to widespread implementation. Methods: A survey was administered to a self-selecting sample in-person (n = 157) or online (n = 58), with questions examining: i) ownership and usage rates of digital devices among people with psychosis; ii) interest in using technology to engage with mental health services; and iii) facilitators of and barriers to using digital tools in a mental healthcare context. Results: Device ownership: Virtually all participants owned a mobile phone (95%) or smartphone (90%), with Android phones slightly more prevalent than iPhones. Only a minority owned a fitness tracker (15%) or smartwatch (13%). Device ownership was significantly lower in unemployed people and those without secondary education. Device cost and paranoid ideation were barriers to ownership. Technology and mental health services: Most participants (88%) said they would willingly try a mental health app. Symptom monitoring apps were most popular, then appointment reminders and medication reminders. Half the sample would prefer an app alongside face-to-face support; the other half preferred remote support or no other mental health support. Facilitators: Participants thought using a mental health app could increase their understanding of psychosis generally, and of their own symptoms. They valued the flexibility of digital tools in enabling access to support anywhere, anytime. Barriers: Prominent barriers to using mental health apps were forgetting, lack of motivation, security concerns, and concerns it would replace face-to-face care. Overall participants reported no substantial effects of technology on their mental health, although a quarter said using a phone worsened paranoid ideation. A third used technology more when psychotic symptoms were higher, whereas a third used it less. Around half used technology more when experiencing low mood. Conclusions: Our findings suggest rapidly increasing device ownership among people with psychosis, mirroring patterns in the general population. Smartphones appear appropriate for delivering internet-enabled support for psychosis. However, for a sub-group of people with psychosis, the sometimes complex interaction between technology and mental health may act as a barrier to engagement, alongside more prosaic factors such as forgetting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests that patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) share a range of cognitive biases with patients with psychosis. As the disorder often manifests in dysfunctional social interactions, we assumed associated reasoning styles would be exaggerated in a social setting. For the present study, we applied the Judge-Advisor System by asking participants to provide initial estimates of a person's age and presumed hostility based on a portrait photo. Afterwards, we presented additional cues/advice in the form of responses by anonymous previous respondents. Participants could revise their estimate, seek additional advice, or make a decision. Contrary to our preregistered hypothesis, patients with BPD (n = 38) performed similarly to healthy controls (n = 30). Patients sought the same number of pieces of advice, were equally confident, and used advice in similar ways to revise their estimates. Thus, patients with BPD did trust advice. However, patients gave higher hostility ratings to the portrayed persons. In conclusion, patients with BPD showed no cognitive biases in seeking, evaluating, and integrating socially provided information. While the study implies emotional rather than cognitive biases in the disorder, cognitive biases may still prove to be useful treatment targets in order to encourage delaying and reflecting on extreme emotional responses in social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functioning is recognized as a key treatment goal in alleviating the burden of schizophrenia. Psychological interventions can play an important role in improving functioning in this population, but the evidence on their efficacy is limited. We therefore aimed to evaluate the effect of psychological interventions in functioning for patients with schizophrenia. To conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched for published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, BIOSIS, Cochrane Library, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), ClinicalTrials.gov and the Study register of the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group. The outcome functioning was measured with validated scales. We performed random-effects pairwise meta-analysis to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We included 58 RCTs (5048 participants). Psychological interventions analyzed together (SMD = – 0.37, 95% CI – 0.49 to – 0.25), cognitive behavioral therapy (30 RCTs, SMD = – 0.26, 95% CI – 0.39 to – 0.12), and third wave cognitive-behavioral therapies (15 RCTs, SMD = – 0.60, 95% CI – 0.83 to – 0.37) were superior to control in improving functioning, while creative therapies (8 RCTs, SMD = 0.01, 95% CI – 0.38 to 0.39), integrated therapies (4 RCTs, SMD = – 0.21, 95% CI – 1.20 to 0.78) and other therapies (4 RCTs, SMD = – 0.74, 95% CI – 1.52 to 0.04) did not show a benefit. Psychological interventions, in particular cognitive behavioral therapy and third wave cognitive behavioral therapies, have shown a therapeutic effect on functioning. The confidence in the estimate was evaluated as very low due to risk of bias, heterogeneity and possible publication bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with psychosis report favourable attitudes towards psychological interventions delivered via smartphone apps. Evidence for acceptability, safety, feasibility and efficacy is promising but in-depth reporting of app engagement in trials is sparse. To examine how people with psychosis engaged with the cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)-informed Actissist app over a 12-week intervention period, and to examine factors associated with app engagement. Secondary data from participants in the intervention arm (n = 24) of a proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial of the Actissist app were analysed. The app prompted participants to engage with app-based CBT-informed material in five domains (voices, socialization, cannabis use, paranoia, perceived criticism) at pseudo-random intervals (three notifications per day, six days per week). Participants could self-initiate use any time. App use was financially incentivised. Participants responded to 47% of app notifications. Most app engagements (87%) were app-initiated rather than self-initiated. Participants engaged most with the voices domain, then paranoia. Age and employment status were significantly associated with overall app engagement. Individuals with psychosis engaged well with Actissist, particularly with areas focussing on voice-hearing and paranoia. App-generated reminders successfully prompted app engagement. As financial incentives may have increased app engagement, future studies of non-incentivized engagement in larger samples are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metacognitive training (MCT) is an effective treatment for psychosis. Longitudinal trajectories of treatment response are unknown but could point to strategies to maximize treatment efficacy during the first episodes. This work aims to explore the possible benefit of using latent class mixed models (LCMMs) to understand how treatment response differs between metacognitive training and psychoeducation. We conducted LCMMs in 28 patients that received MCT and 34 patients that received psychoeducation. We found that MCT is effective in improving cognitive insight in all patients but that these effects wane at follow-up. In contrast, psychoeducation does not improve cognitive insight, and may increase self-certainty in a group of patients. These results suggest that LCMMs are valuable tools that can aid in treatment prescription and in predicting response to specific treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deficits in social cognition and metacognition impact the course of psychosis. Sex differences in social cognition and metacognition could explain heterogeneity in psychosis. 174 (58 females) patients with first-episode psychosis completed a clinical, neuropsychological, social cognitive, and metacognitive assessment. Subsequent latent profile analysis split by sex yielded two clusters common to both sexes (a Homogeneous group, 53% and 79.3%, and an Indecisive group, 18.3% and 8.6% of males and females, respectively), a specific male profile characterized by presenting jumping to conclusions (28.7%) and a specific female profile characterized by cognitive biases (12.1%). Males and females in the homogeneous profile seem to have a more benign course of illness. Males with jumping to conclusions had more clinical symptoms and more neuropsychological deficits. Females with cognitive biases were younger and had lower self-esteem. These results suggest that males and females may benefit from specific targeted treatment and highlights the need to consider sex when planning interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates, for the first time, clinical, cognitive, social cognitive and metacognitive differences in people diagnosed with first-episode of psychosis (FEP) with and without a family history of mental disorder split by maternal and paternal antecedents. A total of 186 individuals with FEP between 18 and 45 years old were recruited in community mental-health services. A transversal, descriptive, observational design was chosen for this study. Results suggest that there is a higher prevalence of maternal history of psychosis rather than paternal, and furthermore, these individuals exhibit a specific clinical, social and metacognitive profile. Individuals with a maternal history of mental disorder scored higher in delusional experiences, inhibition of the response to a stimulus and higher emotional irresponsibility while presenting a poorer overall functioning as compared to individuals without maternal history. Individuals with paternal history of mental disorder score higher in externalizing attributional bias, irrational beliefs of need for external validation and high expectations. This study elucidates different profiles of persons with FEP and the influence of the maternal and paternal family history on clinical, cognitive, social and metacognitive variables, which should be taken into account when offering individualized early treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metacognitive Training (MCT) is a manual-based training program that aims to raise awareness of common cognitive biases and highlight negative consequences in the daily functioning of psychotic/deluded patients. The aim and objectives of the study are to find out the role of MCT to see changes in social behaviour, metacognition and reduction in severity of delusion in patients with delusional disorder. This is a prepared hospital based study, i.e., using pre and post-intervention with control group design. Twenty (20) diagnosed cases of delusional disorder were elected from the RINPAS, Kanke, Ranchi in which Ten (10) patients were randomly selected for the adjunctive treatment, i.e., MCT + Pharmacology, and rest of the patients (10) controlled as treatment as usual. Assessments were done at three stages i.e. baseline, post-training (16 sessions), and to follow-up (2 months). Social behaviour measured by Social Behaviour Assessment Inventory (SBAI) similarly, metacognition by Metacognitive Questionnaire (MCQ), and severity of Delusion by PSYRATS-delusion. Statistically, significant changes were seen in scores of the experimental group than the control group in the form of social behavior, i.e., self-related behavior, environmental, task-related and interpersonal behavior., metacognition, i.e., negative beliefs towards worry concern with uncontrolled danger, positive beliefs about worry, controlling thoughts, cognitive self-conscious and low cognitive confidence and, in the current status of severity of delusion, i.e., disruption in life caused by negative beliefs, preoccupation with delusions, amount and intensity of distress, duration of preoccupation & conviction. The role of metacognitive training is more effective along with pharmacotherapy in respect to changes in the current status of social behavior, metacognition and in the severity of delusion in patients with delusional disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores a possible dialogue between Metacognitive Training (MCT) for psychosis and the tradition of phenomenological psychopathol-ogy. MCT includes modules targeting cognitive and affective biases that are purported to be key mechanisms in the generation and maintenance of delusions in schizophrenia. Work in phenomenological psychopathology has also considered underlying psychological processes associated with delusions, emphasizing how distinct types of anomalous experiences may act as pathways to different types of delusions. Phenomenology's emphasis on the variety of delusional experiences suggests the importance of considering whether particular modules of MCT might be especially suited to the treatment of specific delusion types. A scoping review was used to determine whether module-specific effects on specific types of delusions occurring in SchizophreniaSpectrum Disorders (SSD) have been examined in research on MCT. Results suggest that although some module-specific research exists, the heterogeneity of delusions has not been fully considered in MCT research. We offer examples of possible ways in which particular MCT modules may be differentially effective, and we advocate placing greater focus on the phenomenology and measurement of different types of delusions in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Mobile mental health apps are increasingly being used by both mental health nurses to promote individual self‐managemental of mental health conditions and by consumers.Perceptions about specific apps are known, but the overarching acceptability and usability of mental health apps in general less understood. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: This paper identified consumer perceptions of mobile mental health apps.Six key areas were identified that future mobile app developers should consider to maximize consumer engagement with mental health apps.Consumers also highlighted that apps do not replace traditional mental health nursing—rather these supplement existing care. What are the implications for practice?: This review found that mental health apps are generally viewed positively by consumers; however, factors such as ease of use, usefulness of content and privacy need to be considered to maximise and sustain app engagement. Introduction: There is increasing interest in the use of mobile mental health applications (apps) to manage mental health conditions. Understanding user perceptions is key to maximise app engagement and inform how apps can be used to support mental health nursing care. Aim: This integrative review explores consumers' perceptions of mobile mental health apps to gain insight into user preferences and acceptability. Methods: This integrative review was based on searching four databases: CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, PsycInfo. Inclusion criteria were: (i) articles published after 2000; (ii) focused on apps for mental health disorders; (iii) explored consumers' perception of using a mental health app. Abstracts were screened and eligible papers reviewed. Data on user perceptions were extracted and analysed thematically. Results: Seventeen articles were identified. Overall, consumers did not feel that app use replaced traditional health care. Six themes were identified: "Helpfulness," "Improvements/enhancements," "Technical issues," "Easy to use," "Satisfaction with the app" and "Perceived issues." Consumers indicated a preference for personalization for the app to meet individual needs. Discussion and Implications for Practice: Mental health apps are generally viewed positively by consumers; however, factors such as ease of use, usefulness of content and privacy need to be considered to maximise and sustain app engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various types of computational technologies can be used to access, store and wirelessly share private and sensitive user-related information. The 'big data' provided by these technologies may enable researchers and clinicians to better identify behavioral patterns and to provide a more personalized approach to care. The information collected, however, can be misused or potentially abused, and therefore could be detrimental to the very people who provided their medical data with the hope of improving care. This article focuses on the use of emerging mobile technologies that allow the collection of data about patients experiencing schizophrenia spectrum and related disorders. Schizophrenia has been recognized by the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations for its burden on our health care system and society [1]. Our analysis provides an overview of the range of available mobile technologies for people with schizophrenia and related conditions along with the technology's reported capabilities and limitations, and efficacy of mHealth interventions based on the data from articles. Thus, the focus of this review is first and foremost to update the scope of existing technologies as previous systematic reviews such as the ones by Alvarez-Jimenez et al. and by Firth and Torous are outdated [2, 3]. Although we also examine the ethical issues arising from the use of these technologies, for an in-depth analysis of the ethical implications of mobile Health technologies (mHealth), we refer the readers to our follow-up article. In terms of the ubiquitous availability of technology on the internet, our article summarizes significant information for mental health specialists and apprises the reader about the existence of these technologies. Objectives: In terms of the ubiquitous availability of technology on the internet, our article summarizes significant information for mental health specialists and apprises the reader about the existence of these technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of social media use and its association with symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. 265 individuals with schizophrenia were assessed. Symptoms were assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS). Information on social media use was collected. Logistic regressions were used to explore the association between social media use and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants. Of the 265 study participants, 139 (52.5%) used social media in the last week. Fifty-six (21.1%) of the study participants used more than one social media site in the last week. Facebook was the most popular social media site. Age, highest education level, monthly household income, PANSS negative and depression factor scores were significantly associated with social media use. Amongst negative symptoms, the CAINS motivation-pleasure (MAP) social factor scores were found to be significantly associated with social media use. Our study results suggested that the assessment of social interactions via social media should be considered in the clinical assessment of individuals with schizophrenia. Secondly, our results suggested that the development of treatment programs supported by social media platforms may be useful for certain groups of individuals with schizophrenia. Younger patients with above secondary level education, higher family income and lower symptom severity are likely to be avid users of social media and would be suitable candidates to receive illness related information or clinical interventions via social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive biases, negative affect and negative self-esteem are associated with paranoia in people with psychotic disorders. Metacognitive group training (MCT) aims to target these biases although research has shown mixed results. Our objective was to establish the effect of MCT on paranoid ideation in patients with recent onset psychosis in a powerful experience sampling design. 50 patients between the age of 18 and 35 were included in a single-blind, parallel group RCT comparing MCT with occupational therapy (OT) as an active control condition. We assessed via questionnaires and experience sampling treatment effects on paranoid ideation, delusional conviction, the cognitive bias jumping to conclusion (JTC), and cognitive insight, as well as treatment effects on associations between negative affect, negative self-esteem and paranoid ideation. Patients in the MCT group did not show a decrease in paranoid ideation, delusional conviction, JTC-bias or an increase in cognitive insight compared with OT. However, negative affect showed a weaker association with paranoid ideation post-treatment in the MCT condition. In the OT condition, this association was stronger post-treatment. We tentatively suggest that patients with an early psychosis seemed to benefit from MCT in emotional learning compared with the OT condition. Despite the fact that the group training is well-received by patients, subsequent individual MCT (MCT+) may be indicated for stronger favorable effects on paranoid ideation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Aims were to assess the efficacy of metacognitive training (MCT) in people with a recent onset of psychosis in terms of symptoms as a primary outcome and metacognitive variables as a secondary outcome. Method. A multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial was performed. A total of 126 patients were randomized to an MCT or a psycho-educational intervention with cognitive-behavioral elements. The sample was composed of people with a recent onset of psychosis, recruited from nine public centers in Spain. The treatment consisted of eight weekly sessions for both groups. Patients were assessed at three time-points: baseline, post-treatment, and at 6 months follow- up. The evaluator was blinded to the condition of the patient. Symptoms were assessed with the PANSS and metacognition was assessed with a battery of questionnaires of cognitive biases and social cognition. Results. Both MCT and psycho-educational groups had improved symptoms post-treatment and at follow-up, with greater improvements in the MCT group. The MCT group was superior to the psycho-educational group on the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) total (p = 0.026) and self-certainty (p = 0.035) and dependence self-subscale of irrational beliefs, comparing baseline and post-treatment. Moreover, comparing baseline and follow-up, the MCT group was better than the psycho-educational group in self-reflectiveness on the BCIS (p = 0.047), total BCIS (p = 0.045), and intolerance to frustration (p = 0.014). Jumping to Conclusions (JTC) improved more in the MCT group than the psycho-educational group (p = 0.021). Regarding the comparison within each group, Theory of Mind (ToM), Personalizing Bias, and other subscales of irrational beliefs improved in the MCT group but not the psycho-educational group (p < 0.001-0.032). Conclusions. MCT could be an effective psychological intervention for people with recent onset of psychosis in order to improve cognitive insight, JTC, and tolerance to frustration. It seems that MCT could be useful to improve symptoms, ToM, and personalizing bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on psychiatry including incidence of abnormal lipid tests among first episode of psychosis patients, predictive role of reflective functioning and somatic complaints on non-suicidal self-injury episode, and the complexity of assessing and treating psychosis.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction is acknowledged as one of the most pivotal symptoms in schizophrenia. Although many studies have assessed cognitive functioning in first-episode schizophrenia (FES), the pattern and severity of impairment across cognitive domains remain unclear. Moreover, few studies have directly compared the pattern of cognitive performance between FES and subjects at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR). The objective of the study was to examine the cognitive profile of Chinese patients with FES and to compare that to the profile of patients with subjects at CHR and healthy controls (HC). Methods: We applied the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery to evaluate the cognitive function of 56 first-episode patients with schizophrenia aged between 19–32 years old), 42 cases of clinical high risk for psychosis (aged between 18–28 years old) and 62 healthy controls (aged between 21–29 years old).All data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 statistical software. Results: FES showed impaired performance across all MCCB domains relative to HC（P＜0.05）. With the exception of relative preservation of reasoning and problem solving (P=0.21) and social cognition （P=0.16）in CHR, the MCCB domain scores were similar in CHR and FES. Discussion: The findings suggest that the pattern, magnitude, and distribution of severity of impairment in CHR were similar to that observed in FES. However, early in the illness, there may be relative sparing of reasoning and problem solving and social cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are suggested to map onto two distinct factors – amotivation and diminished expression, which relate to different aspects of behaviour and neural activity. Most research in patients with schizophrenia is conducted with broad symptom assessment scales, such as the PANSS, for which factor solutions allowing the distinction between amotivation and diminished expression have only recently been reported. We aimed to establish whether the PANSS factor structure corresponds to the well-established two-factor structure of the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) and whether it allows distinguishing specific behavioural and neuronal correlates of amotivation. Methods: In study 1 (N=120) we examined the correlations between the PANSS factors and the BNSS factors. In study 2 (N=31) we examined whether PANSS amotivation is specifically associated with reduced willingness to work for reward in an effort-based decision making task. In study 3 (N=43) we investigated whether PANSS amotivation is specifically correlated with reduced ventral striatal activation during reward anticipation using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results: On the clinical level, the PANSS amotivation and diminished expression were highly correlated with their BNSS counterparts. On the behavioural level, PANSS amotivation factor but not the diminished expression factor was specifically associated with reduced willingness to invest effort to obtain a reward. On the neural level, PANSS amotivation was specifically associated with ventral striatal activation during reward anticipation. Discussion: Our data confirm that the two domains of negative symptoms can be measured with the PANSS and are linked to specific aspects of behaviour and brain function. To our knowledge, this is the first study employing behavioural and neural measures to validate a new approach to clinical measurement of negative symptoms. Our results warrant a re-analysis of previous work that used the PANSS to further substantiate the distinction between the two factors in behavioural and neuroimaging studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]