Social cognitions in siblings of patients with schizophrenia: a comparison with patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

There are limited number of studies which have evaluated social cognitive deficits among the siblings of patients with schizophrenia.

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the social cognitive deficits and its correlates among siblings of patients with schizophrenia.

METHODOLOGY

Patients of schizophrenia (N = 34), their siblings (N = 34) and healthy control subjects (N = 31) matched for age, gender, education and intelligence quotient were evaluated on social cognition rating tools in Indian setting (SOCRATIS). Patients were additionally evaluated on Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). Siblings were assessed on Comprehensive Assessment for at risk mental state (CAARMS) scale and Short Wisconsin Schizotypy scale. Neurocognitive test battery was applied to all the groups.

RESULTS

Patients with schizophrenia performed the worst and the healthy controls performed the best, with siblings falling intermediate on all the subtests of social cognition (except for externalizing bias and personalized bias) and neurocognition. There were negative correlation between some of the domains of social cognition and various domains of CAARMS. Higher level of schizotypy was associated with higher level of social cognitive deficits.

CONCLUSION

Social cognitive deficits can act as an important endophenotype for estimating the risk of schizophrenia in at risk siblings. Further, social cognitive deficits must be considered as important target for intervention among the at risk siblings to improve their outcome.